RENT prices are driving away market traders during a difficult patch, a Warrington Guardian survey has found.

A tour of the hall found 20 stalls empty and traders said high costs were to blame.

They think the council should lower rents to keep people in business and stop the depressing sight of empty units.

Estimates from traders about individual stalls added up to £4,000 a week being lost to the borough council in rent. That would be more than £200,000 a year.

Rents vary from £90 a week on a single unit in a quiet area to around £350 for a large stall in the bustling food hall.

"They should reduce the rent and keep the market full," said one trader. "We had a meeting but the council wasn't prepared to reduce them."

Another said: "The public see the empty stalls and think it's shutting."

Estimates from traders reveal the combined time the empty stalls have been unoccupied is almost seven years.

The hardest hit section is that nearest Academy Way, which mainly houses clothes stalls. Some units that appear empty are only being refurbished.

All markets have bad patches and many stalls were doing well. But some people feared a long-term decline would be irreversible without a complete overhaul and some more varied stalls.

One said: "It's dying a death and it's a shame."

Traders at the historic market, which can trace its history back to 1255, and has been at its current site since 1974, also want more enthusiasm from customers.

One trader said: "Footfalls are down but we need positivity from shoppers - not just people saying it's not as good as it used to be. We need spending."

Traders see the borough council as inflexible. One said big stalls cannot be halved into two. They also felt neglected' by the council, said one trader.

Stewart Brown, chief estates and valuation officer at Warrington Borough Council, said: "The licence fees in Warrington Market are very competitive and some stalls range from as little as £95 per week.

"The licence fee includes business rates, heating, cleaning, lighting, security and advertising as well as other costs.

"The market continues to provide opportunities for businesses to trade at a fraction of the rents and outgoings payable elsewhere in the town centre.

"The council will invest any finance available for the market directly into the market for the benefit of customers, traders and the town, and not subsidise traders licence fees."