Machete yobs blamed for fall in market trade

BAD WEATHER AND 'PEOPLE HOLDING ON TO THEIR MONEY' WERE ALSO FACTORS, SAY STALLHOLDERS

- By JOEL MOORE

The Christmas market at Winter Wonderland in Old Market Square Masked yobs were seen with machetes Aleecia Bateman and Gaby Dale at Churros Time

STALLHOLDERS at Nottingham’s Christmas market have complained of a “dive” in trade following a confrontation between groups of youths with machetes.

Winter Wonderland traders said business had suffered for a variety of reasons this year, but pinned much of the blame on the events of November 16, where weapons were flashed in full view of afternoon visitors.

Aleecia Bateman and Gaby Dale, who work at the stall Churros Time, said it was “probably one of the main reasons” for a fall in trade, which they estimated had almost halved.

“Not every stall is the same but we're usually quite a busy stall,” one of their colleagues, who did not wish to be named, said.