TRADERS fear that their plans for a charity collection at Dorchester's Christmas Cracker may have to be abandoned because of council red tape.

Workers in Princes Street have spent months planning their first ever Cracker fundraiser, but have just been informed they need a council street licence.

They say that West Dorset District Council has told them it could be too late to apply in time for the Christmas Cracker on December 6.

Debbie Adams, the manager of Bon Bon newsagent, said: "There was a bit of confusion with the Christmas Cracker committee and we wrongly assumed the licence was sorted out.

"But yesterday we found out that wasn't the case. They said we could use collecting tins in the shop but not outside and we couldn't have our street activities, which seems a bit pathetic really.

"We admit we made a mistake, but we have really worked hard on organising something for Princes Street, all in our own time. There is still three weeks to go so please, please, please, can we have a licence?"

Yvonne Hunter, the owner of Spirals hair salon, said: "We had organised a Santa's Grotto and the Mill Street Jazz Band to play in the street and wanted people with collecting tins outside.

"None of us has ever organised anything like this before and I suppose we assumed that if something like this needed to be done, we would have been told. This red tape is ridiculous. The council has never contacted any of us directly, all this has come through the Cracker committee, and there's been no offer of help.

"I'm devastated to think it might not happen, but we are planning to carry on - and if it comes to it, they can arrest me and take me away."

Martin Ansell, the owner of the Music Box, said: "My immediate reaction was that it was silly not to have one 'umbrella' licence for the whole event.

A spokesman for the district council said: "No one at the district council wants to stand in the way of those wishing to collect for charity at this valuable community event. That is why we are doing everything we can to process all applications for street collection permits received for the Christmas Cracker on December 6, even though some arrived well after the usual deadline."