A GROUP of Dorchester traders has called off its plans for a Christmas charity fundraiser after being discouraged by red tape.

Workers in Princes Street were due to have their first ever event on the town's Christmas Cracker on December 6 to raise cash for the Joseph Weld Hospice.

But after months of planning, they were told they needed a council street licence, for which they hadn't applied.

West Dorset District Council said it would try to process the application as quickly as possible, but it may not be in time.

Now the traders have pulled the plug on their event, which they believe would have raised hundreds of pounds for the Dorchester hospice.

Debbie Adams, manager of the Bon Bon newsagent, said: "Basically, Yvonne Hunter, who owns Spirals hair salon and had done most of the organising, decided to call it off.

"It's a big shame, but I think she felt it had become too much hassle and wasn't worth it.

"We all have to work and run businesses at the same time, and it was all just too much, but it's the charity that will lose out.

"We still haven't heard anything from the council and it's taken a lot of our time and effort."

The Princes Street traders had already arranged for the Mill Street Jazz Band to play and were appealing for a Santa to help out.

It was to be the first time any such event would take place during the Christmas Cracker.

But the group - including staff from the Choice coffee shop, the Music Box and Argos - didn't realise they had to apply for a licence until they were told last week.

Mrs Hunter said then: "We've never organised anything like this before. I suppose we assumed that if something like this needed to be done, we'd have been told. This red tape is ridiculous."

A district council spokesman said: "We have offered to meet the applicant and assured them we're doing everything in our power to process a street licence in time for the Cracker.

"It would be disappointing if the group decided to call off their charity collection."