Farmers in Leicestershire risk court action with market move

Farmers in Leicestershire are getting ready to risk prosecution by holding a market later this month.

A 17th century charter bans anyone from holding markets within ‘six-and-two-thirds of a mile’ of Leicester’s ancient city market – and the charter still stands, according to Leicester City Council.

But farmers are prepared to risk threatened legal action by holding a market at Blaby, on the outskirts of the city, on 21 October.

“We’ve been told we risk legal action, but the whole thing is ridiculous and unfair,” said fruit farmer Sandra Herbert.

“How on earth we’re supposed to be competition to Leicester city market, I don’t know.”

Leicester city councillor John Allen said: “I hope it will not come to legal action, but it would be open to us.”