REBEL traders are loading the ammunition for a last shot at stopping a £5 million revamp of Bury market.

They are thinking of asking the High Court for a judicial review on the matter.

Worried about their livelihoods, they have also resurrected the idea of buying the market from their council landlords.

Local solicitor Mr Bryan Slater, who represents some of the outdoor traders, hopes to discuss the buy-out with chief council officers within the month.

"If the traders want a proper say, they need to be stakeholders in their own futures," said Mr Slater.

"I'm confident that enough of them will pledge enough money to get the thing started.

"A buy-out is the last shot unless we go for judicial review."

The controversy centres on plans to build a new fish and meat hall on the old NatWest Bank site, displacing traders on Cecil and Queens blocks.

The scheme was approved by councillors at last week's planning committee, but Mr Slater was scathing of their conduct. Traders and planning consultants who they had hired were given four minutes to present their case, which 85 stallholders have backed with a petition.

Mr Slater said: "The meeting itself was a sham, a complete charade. Nothing we could have said would have changed their minds.

"It was as clear as day that the decision to approve the application had already been decided."

He added: "For them to pretend that the public can have some effect on decisions is disgraceful."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.