YORK'S new city centre car boot sale has sparked claims of hypocrisy from a woman whose own such sales were banned.

Lorna Marchi spoke out after the first boot sale took place on Sunday on a cobbled area alongside York Market.

The sales are being run on a trial basis for a month by market managers to assess demand. If successful, market stalls could eventually be used by booters to sell unwanted household goods.

In May, council planners halted Mrs Marchi's boot sales at York Riding School in Wigginton Road, saying they were operating in breach of planning controls.

She claimed the sales were her last remaining source of income after their business was hit by road developments, and she subsequently staged a lightning protest by taking three horses into a council office reception area.

Now Mrs Marchi has contacted the Evening Press to complain about the market car boots.

"I think it's outrageous. The council says you shouldn't bring cars into the city centre and should use Park & Ride."

But the boot sales were encouraging motorists to bring their vehicles in. "It's hypocrisy," she claimed.

But market deputy manager Darren Lovatt said the market was helping to encourage customers into the city centre at what was normally a quiet time for traders.

He said the market was noticeably busier on Sunday because of people coming in to have a look at the car boot sale.

He said Mrs Marchi was entitled to her opinions, but stressed that market managers were allowed by the council to run events in the city centre.

Updated: 09:32 Tuesday, July 03, 2001