A POLITICAL row has broken out over posters being displayed by traders in Darwen market.

The posters were produced by Darwen Conservatives under their new Shop Local campaign but some traders say it is political advertising and shouldn't be allowed.

The Conservatives have hit back saying the posters are simply there to encourage shoppers back into the markets. Coun Jackie Slater and Jake Berry, prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Darwen, handed out the posters to traders on June 2 at the launch of the Shop Local campaign.

Since then, several traders have complained to market bosses.

Traders' representative Eileen Guy said: "Both the markets and Darwen Shop and Business Association have to be seen as non-political.

"Traders were complain-ing to our market superintendent saying a political organisation should not be coming around putting up posters."

Eileen said Blackburn with Darwen Council ordered the posters to be taken down but this was followed by a different directive stating that traders could display whatever poster they liked as long as it was not on council property.

She said, the entire market was council property, but a number of posters remain ed on display while she waited for clarification from the council.

Labour's Coun Kate Hollern said she received a letter of complaint from traders and wrote to chief executive Graham Burgess asking for an inquiry.

She said: "This is an arrogant abuse of power, that has become apparent over the last few weeks."

But Mr Berry and Coun Jackie Slater have defended the posters, claiming they are simply supporting the traders.

Coun Slater said: "They are not political, it says Shop Local' and underneath it says Jake Berry supports the local traders." Coun Slater added that the Darwen Conservatives took advice from the town hall and were told the posters would not be a problem.

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said: "The current situation is that material with a political viewpoint cannot be displ-ayed on common parts of the market, including the customer information boa-rds. However, traders may display such material on their own stalls."