The West Malling Farmers Market may be able to continue in the High Street after all.

Tonbridge and Malling council had announced that this Sunday’s market would be the last after the firm that ran it went into liquidation.

The council had received several offers to run a market in the High Street, but the annual fee of £7,000 to Kent County Council to close the road on market days was prohibitive.

But KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter (Con) has agreed to waive the charge for two years after a direct appeal from the area’s county councillor Trudy Dean (Lib Dem) who is also chairman of West Malling Parish Council.

She said: “Our market charter dates from 1106 and it took us years to get our farmers market. I wasn’t going to lose it without a fight.”

She said: “I am grateful to Paul Carter for agreeing straight away to find the money.”

Cllr Dean said a meeting would now be arranged to find volunteers or groups interested in running the market.

Interested volunteers should contact the parish clerk, Carole D’Silva, on 01732 870872.