There will be no European food and craft market over the festive season, the Douglas Development Partnership has confirmed.

Popular with shoppers, the annual event is usually held throughout the main shopping areas of the town. However, this year the DDP could not secure its preferred market operator.

Chris Pycroft explained: 'The aim is to attract people into the town centre to support local businesses. It is a very delicate operation. We have had some issues with shops saying the market affects their business detrimentally. Some operators have caused a few problems and the one market operator that we are confident about isn't available to us this year.'

Mr Pycroft said operators face additional costs coming to the Isle of Man, including the requirement to pay for a non-resident licence of ?700 per trader and substantial ferry costs.

The DDP is appealing to local market traders to come forward in the hope a Christmas market can still go ahead.

Mr Pycroft said: 'We would still like an event that brings people into the town centre and would like to hear from anybody who takes part in Christmas markets and fairs to see whether we can get enough people together.'

Anyone interested in taking part should contact the Douglas Development Partnership on 696304.

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