HEIDI Brandt has blamed poor promotion by Skipton Town Council for her decision to give up her market stall after 22 years.

Miss Brandt has seen a marked drop in customers recently and admits she can no longer make a living wage from her stall selling ladies underwear and nightwear .

"It is costing me money to be here - I've not had a wage since last October.

"I think Skipton Town Council should do more to promote the market. Some of the money they collect from us - I pay £132 a month - should be used to offer incentives to coach companies.

"People come to this town because of the market and it's worrying when you look around and see so many empty spaces," she said.

Miss Brandt took over the stall outside the Craven Herald office from her mother, Molly, and step-father, Peter Wood, when she was aged 18 and has continued to run it ever since.

Dave Parker, chief officer of Skipton Town Council which took over the running of the market last year, said it was not the case that nothing had been done to promote the market.

"Focus in the first year has been on social media and promoting Skipton and the market regionally and nationally via our partnership with Welcome to Yorkshire.

"We’ve also been working hard with coach and tour operators to encourage more to include Skipton on their itineraries.

“We will now be reinvesting a large chunk of the consent fees paid by traders during the last year into a substantial promotional campaign specifically for the market - again working with Welcome to Yorkshire.

" A coach company incentive scheme is also being developed.

"Our plan still remains as making Skipton the best market in the north of England, but there is some way to go yet.”