AN outside market could be reinstated in Cockermouth - six years after a shock High Court ruling that banned them.

As the town celebrated the 800th anniversary of being granted a market charter, Allerdale Council announced a consultation would be held into the matter. A ban on markets being held in Market Place followed a single successful judicial challenge in 2015 which questioned if banning traffic from the road on market days was legal.

Allerdale Council leader Mike Johnson, who is an executive member with responsibility for Economic Growth, Community Development and Placemaking, said: “Markets can play a key role in creating additional vibrancy in our town centres and are also a great platform for new local businesses to take their first steps.

“It is the ambition of the council to introduce new outdoor markets in the borough and we will shortly be launching a consultation into the reintroduction of a regular outdoor market in Cockermouth.”

Civic trust chairman Phil Campbell said: "We would love to see the return of a regular, vibrant market in town, partly to continue our 800-year tradition as a market town, but more importantly, to bring more people into town to use the local shops as well as the market.

"We all really do need to support our town centre, very much a use it or lose it situation."

To celebrate the 800th anniversary, the civic trust organised an event whereby the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Claire Hensman, representing the crown, ceremonially handed over the market charter to the town once again. It was handed to then mayor Julie Laidlow in Market Place.