LAST minute negotiations saved Burnley's historic pot fair from being cancelled because of the market car stack demolition.

The fair is a traditional part of wakes weeks celebrations and stall holders have been coming to the town for decades.

Usually, it is held on the service ramp for the markets but, because the stack has been demolished, the ramp is being used as a car park.

Fair representative Arthur Bloor said: "The fair was cancelled, but negotiations between Burnley Council markets' superintendent John Hayes, president of Burnley Chamber of Trade Mike Brown and myself led to the fair being moved inside and the indoor market stall holders kindly made way for us.

"Everyone has remarked on what a good first day's trade we had and we hope that will continue.

"People on the flea market also said they had a lot of business from the pot fair being inside.

"There is a little magic about a pot fair on an outside market in a town centre.

"If town centres lose their markets then they lose the heart of their towns.

"Now they are turning town centres into plastic and glass palaces that nobody really wants to go shopping in.

"Elderly people and middle aged people recognise and know the market as a place where they get bargains and that personal touch."

The traders have a busy few weeks ahead travelling to fairs in Darlington and Nottingham before the major pot fair in Preston.

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