Tour groups of more than 15 holidaymakers will no longer be allowed to visit the Barcelona market during busy times - between 8am and 3pm on Friday and Saturday – according to newspaper The Local.

Security guides at the market will reportedly be on hand to escort groups of more than 15 out of the building if necessary.

Anna Nicholas, who blogs for MyTelegraph , welcomed the news, criticising the big groups of dawdling tourists that she had seen.

“Not only do these marauding groups restrict movement in the confined space", she wrote, "but prevent locals from going about their business especially as those involved take endless photos and dawdle by stalls”.

“Hopefully all the considerate holidaymakers – families, couples and individuals – will keep coming while large guided groups will with any luck come to learn that a little sensitivity and charm can go a long way.”

Sally Davies, our expert living in Barcelona, agreed that the market gets unbearably crowded.

Tourists at La Boqueria

However, she did not think that the ban will make much of a difference to tourist visitor numbers.

“The vast majority of guide-led groups contain 10 or fewer people,” she said. “It could well be a city council attempt to look as though it is addressing locals’ ongoing concerns about tourist saturation, but it is a start.

“There are other great markets in Barcelona, such as the Mercat Santa Caterina, but for locals the Boqueria is still the best place to find certain products - often, the only place.”

The Mercat Santa Caterina

The move follows recent protests by locals who claim the city was being overrun with tourists.

A documentary entitled Bye Bye Barcelona, in which locals' opinions were canvassed, was produced last year, and saw them complain about the negative impact of tourism.

In the film, one resident laments the city’s “loss of enchantment”, while another suggests tourists should pay more taxes. Footage shows shops selling gaudy ceramic lizards and residents marching with placards protesting about the privatisation of Parc Guell - the once-public park where tourists can appreciate Gaudi's designs and views across the city - that now charges a €7 (£5.77) entry fee.

Read Sally Davies' expert guide to Barcelona

Travel Guides app

Download the free Telegraph Travel app, featuring expert guides to destinations including Paris, Rome, New York, Venice and Amsterdam

Sign up to our weekly email newsletter

Follow Telegraph Travel on Twitter

Follow Telegraph Travel on Facebook

Follow Telegraph Travel on Pinterest

Follow Telegraph Travel on FourSquare