A funfair which has visited Cleckheaton for more than 50 years is being told to move on by traders.

Members of the Spenborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce are urging Kirklees Council to ban Marshall's Fair from using the town's main car park.

But William Wright, joint owner of Marshall's Amusements, said he was "baffled" by the traders' hostility - and claimed he got no complaints from other Yorkshire towns.

Keith Joplin, president of the traders' group, said: "The fair has a detrimental affect on business because people can't park.

"They see the car park is full and drive straight through Cleckheaton.

"Trade goes down, not up, and the fair causes access problems for businesses next to St John's car park."

Colin Wilson, of Colin Wilson Displays in St John's Place, said his premises had been blocked by fairground lorries. And he said because the fair took up car park spaces workers and shoppers were forced to park in back streets.

"They take 80 per cent of the car park and they put some people off visiting.

"It may attract visitors but they don't spend money in our shops. The benefits it brings doesn't justify the problems it causes."

Marshall's Fair last visited Cleckheaton during Easter and is next due in the town in August.

Owner Mr Wright said: "The fair is five generations old and it's a real tradition in Cleckheaton.

"I don't understand their complaints, we are not there to disrupt the local tradesmen and I would have thought we encouraged people to visit."

Mr Wright claimed he did not get complaints from traders in Bradford, Batley, Dewsbury and Wakefield where his company also staged funfairs.

Rita Sykes, of Kirklees Highway Department, said Marshall's paid the Council to use the car park.

She said funfairs were encouraged under the Council's policy of promoting "vibrant use" of town centres.

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