LUDGERSHALL'S historic market has dwindled to such a degree that a radical change may be needed to revive it.

One possibility would be to shift the trading day from Friday to Saturday. It would allow people who cannot at present use the market because of work commitments to visit the market held in the main car park.

Eden Speller, the markets officer for Kennet District Council, raised the issue at a meeting of the parish council.

"The market has dwindled down to three stalls. This is a cause for concern for the council as Kennet likes to support the rural communities and the markets that they have," he said.

"We are looking for something to bolster it."

Markets, he said had been suffering the same fate as small community shops, as more and more people have opted to do their shopping in supermakets.

He wanted the parish council to encourage interest in the market from potential customers and stall holders.

Kennet had tried to make the market work by reducing the cost of stalls to a minimum.

Parish council chairman, Chris Williams, said: "I can't get to the market because I am at work but if it was on a Saturday more people would have the opportunity to see what is going on.

"People do support village activities when they can - as many as 300 people will turn up to the church fete. The market is part of the history of Ludgershall and something we need to keep going."