THE operator of the former Malmesbury Sunday market, which owes the town council around £1,800, has been shut down in Tetbury due to non-payments.

Landmark Events moved its Sunday market from Malmesbury to Tetbury after it was closed down in the wake of protests from local traders.

After Malmesbury Town Council closed the market in November it was discovered that rent cheques from Landmark Events had bounced.

This week it emerged that the same firm has been closed down in Tetbury. The Sunday market was renting land owned by the feoffees an ancient feudal society with land rights.

The feoffees' secretary, Campbell Higgins, said the market operator still owed an unspecified amount of money.

The Malmesbury market ran into difficulties after it was set up in September last year. Traders complained that it was having an adverse affect on their businesses and after just two months it was closed.

In the row over the market Mayor Charles Vernon was thrown out of ASM Outfitters on the High Street by owner Stan Malpas. The following week shop owner Leonard Walker followed suit and told his son not to serve any of the town council in his Market Cross butchers.

Landmark then threatened to sue for loss of earnings of around £3,000 from the four markets between November 30 and December 28.