Fishmongers struggling to keep their businesses afloat in a historic market have been thrown a lifeline by Bradford Council.

The four remaining stallholders in St James' Fish Market have been told they can have their units rent-free.

The concession has been made by Bradford Council because of continued delays over the refurbishment of the main Rawson market hall.

The £6 million scheme will be funded from the proceeds of the sale of Vicar Lane car park to leisure developers.

The work on the market is expected to start in September after a long delay.

The Rawson tenants have had the rent-free concession since they moved out of the main hall two years ago into a £1.2m temporary hall nearby.

But fishmongers whose hall joins onto the main market say trade has slumped since the greengrocers and butchers moved out.

The fishmarket - which has been operating for more than 100 years - had at least 20 businesses in its heyday.

But the remaining stallholders, who appealed for the rent- free concession last week, said they would be lucky to survive without help from the Council.

Fishmonger John Burn said he wanted to thank the Telegraph & Argus for highlighting the plight of the businesses last week.

"We are very pleased that the Council has agreed we can have the stalls rent-free. It is going to be a great help to us."

The Rawson tenants have attacked the Council over delays in the refurbishment. They say they have been kept in the dark about finance.

They moved out of the main hall more than two years ago and say they expected work to start any day.

But the traders say the two- year contract should have been finished now and not a brick has been laid.

They are considering asking Bradford Council for help or compensation because trade has collapsed in the new hall.

The Council says it is confident the Vicar Lane sale will go through with no problems and work will soon start.

Council leader, Councillor Ian Greenwood, says the delays could not have been anticipated.

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