TWO Ramsbottom caterers have been forced to move after more than 16 years in business because of complaints that they damage the town's image.

Mike Heyes, who sells burgers and black peas from the Carriage catering trailer, and hot potato seller Bill Jackson were weekend fixtures on the piazza outside Ramsbottom train station.

But Bury Council has now banned them from their usual patches due to complaints that they detract from Ramsbottom's heritage image.

Both traders say they were initially told they had to move because they were trading illegally. They were later informed the order had come from Bury Council's highways department on the grounds that the stalls caused an obstruction.

But a letter to the Market Traders Federation, which had written to Bury Council on the caterers' behalf, said a decision to ban all trade from the piazza was taken because "the presence of the traders immediately outside the station at the junction of Railway Street and Bridge Street detracts from the heritage offer the town seeks to promote".

Both caterers have been paying rent to Bury Council, allowing them to trade as part of Ramsbottom's Sunday market. Mike holds a street traders' licence so that he can operate on Saturdays as well.

Bill (56), of Horridge Street, Bury, said: "If we've been trading illegally the council has been taking rent from us illegally. They will have had more than £10,000 from me over the years.

"People don't like change. They expect me to be in my usual place. I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it'."

Mike Heyes (56), of Arley Avenue, Seedfield, said "People can't believe it. Customers see me as part of Ramsbottom and can't see what harm I was doing. If I was breaking any rules it's taken 16 years for someone to pick up on it.

"The council seems to think Ramsbottom is a museum. They say I detract from the heritage aspect, but people come from miles away to buy black peas from me."

Bury Council offered both men alternative spaces. Bill has accepted a position on the Sunday car boot sale and continues to work on Bury Market on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Mike said the council's alternatives were not suitable and has moved to a car park further down Railway Street, owned by Somerfield supermarket.

Councillor Diana Ashworth said councillors had received complaints from other businesses about both the catering stalls and the Sunday car boot.

She said: "People have complained that the quality of the stalls is not what Ramsbottom people want as a tourist attraction."