A LOVED farmers market has been hit with a big fine and a threat of prosecution for advertisements in the area.

Colchester Farmers Market, run by Suffolk Market Events had its third market of the year this month.

The locally sourced market is based outside The Mercury Theatre in Colchester Town Centre on the first Friday of each month.

Since the market held at the start of April, the organiser has received a £100 fine for their temporary signposts and banners in town which direct people to the market.

Gazette: Locally sourced - view from a stall in Colchester

The signs are in town for five days each month and are then taken down.

The fine has been paid for, but the company hope the council can discuss more options to allow signage in the future to support local businesses that serve the community.

Alex Paul, Co-owner and director of Suffolk Market Events, said: “We were a bit flabbergasted and taken back.

“We feel it’s extreme that a flag on the day saying welcome to the market is a finable offence.

“We do a huge amount of marketing online but the signs add to the experience of coming to the market.”

They have been told that if they put any flags up on the day, they will get fined.

READ MORE>>> Plans for new Colchester takeaway are withdrawn

Gazette:

Suffolk Market Events hold other farmers markets in many locations in Suffolk and have never had issues with any posters or banners.

Mr Paul said: “They all allow short term signage, there are sometimes allocated spots to put them, we can work well with that."

A spokesperson for Colchester Borough Council said: “The Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which falls under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, prohibits flyposting and the display of adverts and other promotional materials around the town without permission.

“While there may be exemptions that permit the display of certain materials in some locations with the permission of the property owner, the council – like most other local authorities – operates a 'zero tolerance' policy. If a promoter is found to be flyposting, then we have no option but to enforce against them."