THE French Market which was held recently in Marlborough for the first time, could be invited back.

The trial market, dubbed a Continental Market to avoid any anti-French feeling over the lack of support for Allied action in the Gulf, took place on May 8 and 9.

It was promoted by the Marlborough Area Development Trust as part of its bid to woo new trade to the area.

At the first trust meeting since the market, members expressed concern over the small number of stalls and the virtual lack of any publicity by the organising firm.

Chairman Melvyn Lillywhite said that promoting the event had been left to Hughmark, the company that organises the markets.

Mr Lillywhite said: "This was my major disappointment. The publicity was very poor.

"The whole idea was to bring people into the town and you don't do this without publicity and rely on passing trade only."

It was rumoured in the town that the trust had paid the French traders to come to Marlborough, but Mr Lillywhite said this was not true.

He said the organising company had paid for the no-parking cones to be put out to keep the market area clear, clearing up after the event, and had made a donation to the trust.

Coun David Parker said the market lacked the French flavour he had seen at others, with the absence of stalls selling items like crepes.

"It was not as colourful as I had imagined it would be," said Coun Parker. "I think it's worth another try but we do want a better turnout of stalls."

Chamber of commerce representative, Carrie Clarkson-Cowles, said: "Crepes and wine stalls would have made it more of a traditional continental market."

Newly elected mayor Coun Bill Cavill said that double parking by the French traders with vans behind the stalls restricted the High Street traffic to a crawling pace.

The trust agreed to discuss with Hughmark the possibility of a bigger continental market visiting Marlborough on an occasional basis.

Another scheme actively under consideration is to invite classic car clubs to hold rallies in Marlborough which would attract other tourists besides the car club members.