ICE cream and snacks trader Geoff Hindle battled for a year with mean-minded managers who banned the continental-style tables and chairs he set up by his van outside Darwen Market.

But hardly has his hard-won victory sunk in, than he is hit by a thumping 700 per cent rent increase. It's so steep that Geoff cannot afford his al fresco caf after all.

What sort of reward is that for his hard work, enterprise and brightening up the place? It stinks of spite on the part of the misery-guts running the market.

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