Farmers cannot trade freely

Under the medieval Leicester law, Blaby farmers and traders are prevented from holding more than a few markets a year in the town.

The charter, invoked by Leicester City Council, states markets cannot take place regularly, within six-and-two-third miles of the city.

The council said the law was reviwed in 1995 and did not need changing.

With the frequent markets being held in Leicester, Blaby farmers cannot trade.

Alec Duthie, director of Leicestershire Food Links, believes that Leicester City Council could relax the terms of the charter to allow more markets to take place.

He said: "We have been speaking to the council for about 18 months about this, so far without them relenting.

"With Leicester, it's their policy in how they apply their charter rights that could be changed. They are unusual in applying the rights so strictly."

The city council told BBC Leicester: "The market franchise rights enable Leicester City Council to control all markets within a six-and-two-third mile boundary.

"The legislation which enables the council to do this was reviewed in the de-regulation bill of 1995, and the decision was made that market franchise rights would continue to be supported as the most appropriate way of controlling markets within the UK."

Councillors from Blaby are due to meet Roger Blackmore, Leicester City Council leader to discuss ways of changing the current system.