There are fresh calls to move the Artisan Market back to Saturday – or lose it altogether.

The row over when to hold the monthly market erupted after shops and businesses complained the market - which originally took place on Saturdays - was damaging trade.

It was moved to Sundays at the end of last year after a survey commissioned by Wilmslow Town Council supported the change.

But organisers say there has been a drop in footfall of more than 40 per cent and stallholders have complained of decreasing sales, and are making fresh calls for the market to move back to Saturday.

Angela Kapoor, who runs the Cheshire Tarts stall, set up a wholesale bakery in Wilmslow on the back of success at the Artisan Market.

She said: “Sadly the event is no longer viable for us if it remains on a Sunday. As a resident and big supporter of the market, I would love to see the event moved back to a Saturday. The market has been a huge success but will not continue if it remains on a Sunday. Traders pay to take a pitch but sadly there aren’t enough shoppers to make enough sales.

“The next couple of months are critical for the market. This is not a question of Saturday versus Sunday, but of ‘move it or lose it’.”

Denise Valente, who runs the market, said Wilmslow could lose the market altogether.

She said: “When we moved to Sunday, I thought it may take time for people’s habits to change, but we would get the footfall and atmosphere back to what it was. But it hasn’t happened, footfall is continuing to decrease and stallholders have chosen to go elsewhere. Something needs to change or the market may not survive.”

Mrs Valente says the decision is in the hands of Wilmslow Town Council and Cheshire East Council, which allows her a licence to hold the market on Grove Street.

Matthew Jackson, town clerk, said there is potential for the market to return to Saturdays.

He said: “We’ve been having discussions with market organiser Denise, market traders and some of the bricks-and-mortar businesses in the town to try and come up with a solution.

“We recommended that the market moved to Sunday after surveying businesses, but after a six month period of reflection we realise there are concerns and that it may need to change again. This is not a closed discussion.”

Contact the town clerk on 01625 402907 with your views. The next Artisan Market is on Sunday, June 15.