The community is divided over Wilmslow's Artisan market – with some saying a survey to decide its future was unfair.

Some traders say less than half of retailers were surveyed about whether they want to keep the market, which takes place every third Saturday.

Wilmslow Business Group worked with Cheshire East Council to carry out the survey last month following complaints from some traders that it damaged sales.

The results, revealed last week, showed that the majority of residents and traders voted overwhelmingly to keep the market.

But now some business owners have complained that only 124 traders were asked their opinion about whether the market should stay, and if it should trade on Saturdays or open on Sundays instead.

Colin McKevitt, of the Boardroom, on Bank Square, says the market has a negative impact on his trade and should be moved to Sunday.

He also believes the survey was not in-depth enough.

He said: "We are pleased that a huge 95pc – which we are a part of - want to keep a market in the town.

"However after a discussion with Cheshire East which kindly volunteered to carry out the survey we have found out that only 50pc of the businesses were surveyed. The other 50pc have not had their voices heard.

"It was not as thorough as it should have been either"

He said the survey doesn't show if the businesses that support the market were chains which could afford to take a business hit.

A third of people said they wanted to move the market to a Sunday.

"If they are independent firms heir concerns should not be ignored because they pay the business rates and are there all year round."

Ninety-five per cent of 124 retailers surveyed said they wanted the market to continue and 96pc of 750 people who took part in a visitor survey agreed.

And 69pc voted to keep it on a Saturday.

Denise Valente, one of the market’s organisers, said: "All the main town centre traders who are affected by the market were surveyed."