A women's organisation is calling for the return of a weekly farmers' market in York city centre.

Soroptimist International of York is considering raising a petition to the City of York Council, and is appealing for other organisations and individuals to lend their support.

Sylvia Rooke, York president of the organisation for women in management and professions, said members had recently discussed the matter and felt a regular market for local farmers in the Parliament Street/St Sampson's Square area, would be an excellent idea.

She said Continental markets, occasionally held in York, sold food that could not be totally fresh, having been brought to Britain from Europe.

But local farmers in crisis could regularly sell their own produce, such as ham, pork, venison, pates, preserves and vegetables, quite fresh.

"Up to several years ago, farmers had three rows of stalls on the wall next to Marks & Spencers, but they have died out or retired." She was convinced that North Yorkshire farmers would gladly take advantage of the opportunity if the council was prepared to offer it.

York's markets manager Paul Barrett said several farmers' markets had been held in the past six months in Parliament Street, and had proved very popular, and four more were planned for later this year, on May 31, July 28, at the end of September and in early December.

But he felt the markets might lose their special appeal if they became a routine, weekly event. There were also numerous competing demands for space in Parliament Street, and he also had concerns that farmers might not have sufficient produce for a weekly market.

Sylvia Rooke said that any organisation or individual interested in helping launch a support petition should contact her on (01904) 647017.