I CAN only think that Simon Drage (Letters, April 29) must have visited York market on a Monday or Wednesday in early January.

On all other days there seems to be a good selection of not only fruit and vegetable stalls but also a butcher, two fresh fish and game merchants and a cheese stall.

They sell local and foreign produce which is superior and fresher than the pre-packed tasteless varieties in the supermarkets.

Some of the clothing, footwear, greetings card and book stalls have an excellent choice of mainly quality goods at prices much cheaper than those of local shops. I shall not try to list the other goods that are available as these are so extensive.

Please, Mr Drage, give the market another chance at a time of year when local fruit and vegetables are available, even if you do have to face a longer queue than the local supermarket.

I write as a customer not a stall-holder and, like many others in York, would like to see the market back on its historical site in Parliament Street, although this could cause problems for the fish and meat stalls.

Alec Acomb,

Hillcrest Avenue,

Nether Poppleton, York.

Updated: 09:37 Wednesday, May 04, 2005