REDDITCH'S German market has been accused of making the town a "laughing stock" and a point of derision amongst traders, the public and the shops around it - after only three stalls turned up.

Regular market traders on Church Green claim they have been pushed aside for the "incompetently organised" event, run by Redditch Town Centre Partnership.Traders say they have been treated unfairly, with some being asked to move for the visiting Christmas stalls, and were promised things which have simply not happened.

They said the stalls that did turn up don't always open and regularly have one person running between them if they have customers.

One regular trader, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "There is a feeling amongst everybody on here that the whole thing as been nothing but a waste of time.

"The only goods the Christmas stalls sell are donuts, wreaths and Christmas trees, and sausages - all of which are available on the market.

The Christmas market was supposed to have eight stalls, promising gluhwein, weissbier, bratwurst and pretzels, as well as crafty items to get residents in the festive mood.

However, only three stalls turned up leaving people to feel slightly short-changed.

The trader added: "It probably sounds like sour grapes as I'm losing a lot of money in what is my busiest month but it's not.

"If they had bought all the promised stalls in it would have made a good market and probably brought more people in which would have been beneficial to everybody. Instead it's become a point of derision amongst the traders, the public and the shops around it. It reflects badly on everyone.

"It's making Redditch a laughing stock."

A spokesman for Redditch Town Centre Partnership, said that the introduction of Christmas market stalls was an experiment to improve this year's Christmas programme in the town centre.

"The aim is to attract more people out of the Kingfisher Centre and onto Church Green and Market Place to create extra footfall and therefore potential business for traders including those on Redditch Market, they said.

"Unfortunately, what the operator delivered did not match our expectations or what was promised and we have made our disappointment on the matter clear to them.

"The trader who was asked to move was spoken to beforehand so was fully aware of what was going to happen and raised no concerns or objections at the time.

"We will of course review all feedback from the Christmas programme with partners in January."

A spokesman from Redditch Council said that the Christmas market was brought in by the Town Centre Partnership so would not be able to comment.

It can be revealed that Redditch market, which currently earns the council more than £25,000 a year, will be run by a private company next year after the council awarded a five year contract to EG Skett & Co.