Traders believe the market will close if it is moved

The demonstrators want proposals to move the site to make way for a large department store to be scrapped.

A multimillion pound revamp of the town would include a Debenhams, a cinema, a bowling alley, a car park and shopping units.

The council has said if the market remains where it is the development will not go ahead.

Protesters gathered in the town at 0900 GMT before marching to the county hall to hand over the remaining part of a 60,000-signature petition against the scheme.

The market is in the heart of the community and the people came out to support this Mike Elias, town councillor

They claim if the move to the former livestock mart site goes ahead the market will close through lack of business.

"It was an orderly protest - it was just the presence of the people being felt," said town councillor Mike Elias.

"The lines have now been drawn, the people of Carmarthen spoke this morning.

"The market is in the heart of the community and the people came out to support this."

All four development options under consideration would result in the market relocation.

The fifth option is that we do not have the development at all Cyril Davies Carmarthen council

However, Carmarthen Council have estimated the move would bring at least 30% more trade.

"We understand there are protest marches and petitions being organised by the market traders," said Cyril Davies, the council's head of assets.

"It is important that they and their supporters understand the market can only stay in its current position if the development does not go ahead.

"We cannot come up with another option.

"There are four options on display for the public to see. The fifth option is that we do not have the development at all."

The plans are on display at St Peter's Civic Hall until 28 November.