THE first Continental market held in Marlborough was viewed with mixed feelings by the public and by the town's regular traders.

The market was organised by the Marlborough area Development Trust in a bid to woo more trade to the town.

Marlborough Chamber of Commerce had raised no objection to the event, although some of its individual members felt it could hit local trade.

Chamber president Anthony Wells said his members were disappointed with the way the event turned out and the lack of promotion for it.

About 14 French traders attended the two-day market on Thursday and Friday last week.

Some of Marlborough's Wednesday market traders had been upset to see no parking cones reserving the space for the Continental market on the side of the High Street between Ailesbury Court and the Polly Tearooms.

Eddie Grandy, who runs the underwear and hosiery stall at the regular market was angry the French traders were being allowed to set up at the side of the road.

A year ago Mr Grandy tried to get Kennet District Council to move the Wednesday and Saturday markets to the side of the street because he said it was dangerous for customers using the traditional market place in the centre of the street.

The district council has argued the town markets have traditionally been in the centre of the road where they are permitted by an ancient statute.

Ironically, some of the French traders on Thursday and Friday said they would have preferred to be in the traditional market place in the centre of the road.

A woman running a cheese stall said trade had been quite good both days but said: "We would have liked to be in the centre of the street where the regular market goes."

A Frenchman running a clothes stall said: "Trade has been OK but it would have been better here on a Saturday."

There was some good natured reaction to the French arriving with a large tricolour flying from one of their stalls.

Toyshop owner Tony Gray, a former mayor and chairman of Kennet District Council, responded by flying a large Union Jack from the window of the Devizes Conservative Association.

Shopkeepers had a mixed reaction to the French market being outside their stores.

Sam Cook, the deputy manager at Victoria Wine, said her takings were down by several hundred pounds on Thursday because people could not pull up outside the off-licence to get a bottle of wine on their way home .

Mrs Cook also complained that her business had not been notified the French market would be taking place.

She said: "The first we knew about it was when the no waiting cones were put out."

Marlborough Tiles shop also said many of their customers stayed away because they needed to be able to park outside to collect heavy boxes of tiles.

The market's organisers tried to ensure there were no French stalls outside shops selling similar products.

Dash, the women's fashion shop, ended up with a French clothes stall outside but found it boosted its trade.

A Dash spokeswoman said: "It has been very good. Quite a few of the people coming in have said they stopped in Marlborough because they saw the French market."

There was a mixed reaction from the public with some welcoming the French traders, and others saying they were disappointed at the small number of stalls, the small range of goods and high prices.

But others, like pensioner Bill Cox, enjoyed having a different range of market stalls in town.

Mr Cox, from Savernake Court, said: "I think it's brilliant and I think we should have our usual markets on the side of the road like this. It's something different for the local shoppers and for the tourists."

Another shopper said: "There is no wine which is disappointing because I always enjoy the wines I buy from the French markets in Devizes."

Chamber of commerce president Mr Wells said it was a shame the event had not been as widely advertised as Roberts Circus in town at the same time.

Mr Wells said: "Now that the trial has taken place, we are very disappointed with the result.

"The influx of visitors did not materialise, and the standard and selection of goods on offer was low. If the event had been as widely publicised as the circus, how different it might have all been."

Development trust chairman Melvyn Lillywhite said: "My biggest disappointment is that the organisers did not give it a lot more publicity.

"It was an exercise, a trial run, and we will wait until we get all the information back before we decide if it was a success and if it should be repeated."