David Ruffley, MP for Bury St Edmunds is backing a campaign set up by the All Party Parliamentary Markets Group, of which he is a member, to promote market stalls in Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds.

The National Market Trader's Federation has released a document, the NMTF 400, which is the Federation's guide to helping traders increase their sales launched at the beginning of October. Mr Ruffley said: 'Markets and market stalls are a vital part of our county market towns. Turnover at market stalls nationwide is in excess of £3.5 billion from 45,000 micros businesses supporting almost 100,000 jobs. So they are important in our local economy.'

Mr Ruffley, who had a meeting on Friday 12 November with St Edmundsbury Borough Council Chief Executive Geoff Rivers, Leader John Griffiths and Deputy Leader Sara Mildmay-White, added: 'Councillor Mildmay-White said that the market in Bury St Edmunds was something we were all proud of and she is working on Council proposals to enhance its visibility. I believe the market adds to the distinctive county town character of Bury St Edmunds. I shall be doing all I can with the Council on this project.'