Stallholders at the Wednesday market near Victory Square, in Hartlepool, pay £20 per day to hire a stall and claim they were previously allowed to use other stalls free of charge if they were not being used to make the market look busy.

But officers at Hartlepool Borough Council say it has never been formal policy to allow stallholders to use neighbouring stalls free of charge and traders must pay for the use of all stalls.

While the market was busy in the car park near King John's Tavern this week, there were several empty stalls in the area near Bar One.

Traders have also expressed concerns that the council is trying to "run down" the market so they can use it as a full time car park – a claim council officers say is "unfounded".

Meanwhile, the council has also deferred a decision about making traders provide their own tables as part of cost saving moves for a couple of months.

The council currently sets out the stalls in the town centre for the Wednesday and Thursday markets.

One stall holder, who didn't want to be named, told the Mail: "The council is being too strict with the market and they don't live in our world.

"There is a general feeling that the council is trying to run it down to use it as a car park – they would probably make more money that way."

The 54-year-old, who lives in the Stockton Road area of town, added: "I have been here 20 years and it used to be a really bustling place, some days you couldn't get a stall. I used to make £400 – £500, but now if I make £150 then it has been a good day.

"Some days you stand here and only scrape £30. The market is dying as people now go to out of town shopping areas and supermarkets."

Another trader, who did not want to be named, added: "We used to be able to use the table next to us as well if it wasn't being used, but we can't any more.

"A lot of the lads won't come down because you need at least two stalls for all your stock and to set it out, but it means paying £40 rather than £20. That is a lot of money."

A spokesman for the council said: "It costs £20 per day to hire a stall in the Wednesday market.

"It has never been formal policy to allow stallholders to use neighbouring vacant stalls without paying for them – it is unfair on those stall holders who pay to have more than one stall.

"Regarding the ongoing question of who will set up the Wednesday market stalls in the future, we are continuing to explore various options and some proposals will be prepared for consideration by the council's cabinet member for adult and public health in a couple of months' time.

"In the meantime, we are still continuing to erect the Wednesday market stalls.

"Any suggestion that we want to see the Wednesday and Thursday markets come to an end so that we can use the area for car parking is totally unfounded."