TODAY'S Local Produce Market in the centre of Ludlow could be the last if the town council goes ahead with a massive 82% increase in its rent charge.

Last month, the council's services committee approved a rental hike from £330 to £600 per session of the crowd-pulling market which sells goods from food and drink producers within a 30 mile radius.

The market's organisers Kate and Peter Norman told the Advertiser: "We make only a small surplus on most markets and have to allow for losses at some times of the year and the risk of extreme weather. A charge of £600 per market is too high and the risk is too great. It will mean we have to shut down."

The market has run on the second Thursday of the month since 2000 with the only interruption being during the foot and mouth epidemic. Because of demand it is due to open twice a month from April.

The decision to raise the rental was taken by four members of the seven person services committee. They were chairman Coun Tony Pound, deputy chairman Coun Jim Newbold, the Mayor Ludlow, Coun Marie Glaze, and deputy mayor Coun Jim Smithers. Three other members, councillors Graeme Perks, Graeme Kidd and Mickey Bradley, did not attend.

Coun Pound's services committee also approved large increases for two other major markets. The rent for the Green Festival in August will rise 62% from £371 to £600 and the Food and Drink Festival's rental in September will go up by 94% from £438 to £850. Proposed rises for most of the other regular markets are in single percentage figures. Unless the services committee reverses its own decision or is overturned by a full Ludlow Town Council, the increases will take effect from April 1.

Since the committee decisions were taken, the phones have been buzzing at the council's Buttercross HQ. New town clerk Linda Thomas, who took over on Monday, said the committee is now to meet again on Monday to reconsider the increases.

Kate and Peter Norman said their Ludlow 21 Food and Farming Group pays a manager £150 per market to organise bookings and run the event. All other input is voluntary and unpaid. There are no distributed profits.

They warned that the loss of the market will cut the incomes of the small producers who attend.

They added: "It will destroy a significant tourist attraction and reduce the takings of local shops."

It would also "severely damage" Ludlow 21, a voluntary organisation working for a sustainable future, and the town council would lose £7,920 income per year at current rents, they said Shopkeepers in the town centre also report added takings on market days and visitor numbers are increased "because of the market's good reputation", they add.

Coun Pound was not available for comment as the Advertiser went to press.