ROYSTON’S farmers market has been indefinitely cancelled due to lack of support from the community, town chiefs said this week.

The market, which has been running for one Sunday a month for four years, could not attract enough customers to continue, leading to traders declining to take up pitches.

The news has come as a surprise to Royston markets manager Emma Burgess, who has said she doesn’t know why people didn’t want to attend, but realised that there hadn’t been enough support.

“The people of Royston were not coming to the market, which is the main reason we have had to cancel it,” she said.

“I have no idea why they didn’t want to come really, and I can’t speak for the public. It led to traders not wanting to come here as they were not getting the business.”

Miss Burgess has said that nothing will replace the market, which sold “a bit of everything,” including meat, vegetable, crafts, cakes, pickles and curry.

“There is no point in replacing it if we can’t attract the customers or the traders. It’s a definitely a shame that not enough people wanted to come, as the prices were affordable and quality local goods were on sale,” she said.

The cancellation leaves the charter market, which takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as Royston’s only regular market, though occasional travelling markets do take place.

Royston town clerk Susan Thornton-Bjork said: “Due to the lack of traders and customers using the Sunday farmers market, Royston Town Council has instructed the markets manager to cease organising the Sunday market with immediate effect from January 2011.

“The Market Manager has found it increasing difficult to get traders to continue to attend due to the lack of support from the community.

“We apologies to those of you who did use the market regularly but it is not cost effective to the council.”

Mrs Thornton-Bjork thanked Miss Burgess for her hard work, and confirmed that some of the traders will return for the charter market.

“Members thank Emma for her hard work in the promotion of the Farmers Market. Some traders will continue to attend the charter market held on Saturdays of the month,” she said.