ORGANISERS have demanded that businesses from out of town should be banned from Dorchester's Cracker night.

Members of the Chamber of Commerce, who are organising Dorchester's major shopping night in the run-up to Christmas, say they would like the evening to be all about local businesses and not about traders coming into the area.

At a meeting of the group at the Wessex Royale Hotel, former president John Manley said that in recent years the number of burger vans and other food traders coming into the town had increased.

He said: "As far as I'm concerned it's an evening where local businesses should be promoting themselves. Far too often we have seen traders coming in from Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole setting up their stalls and blocking access to local businesses.

"From the Chamber's point of view it should be all about the town and the businesses in the town."

Chamber member David Evans agreed.

He said: "One of the attractions of the food stalls is that people don't necessarily want to stop to sit down and eat, but would rather eat on the hoof.

"Perhaps if we can encourage local businesses to do something on their doorsteps, such as a hog roast, where food is more easily accessible, people would find that more attractive."

Cracker sub-committee member Keith Grainger said he and his colleagues would be looking at ways to limit involvement from outside businesses.

He said plans were well under way for this year's event, which was organised by the late Ian Marchant last year.

He said: "Since I and others took on this role we have been amazed by how much work there is to do. We have had a great response from people sop far, but there is still a huge amount left to do."

Mr Grainger said he was keen to hear from anyone who wanted to offer help with the evening.

He can be contacted on 01300 348810.