Market traders are urging the council to let them use part of a Kidlington car park until a new site for the popular village market can be found.

The site used by stallholders off High Street is up for sale, and traders are worried that when they are moved off next April, the Friday and Saturday market could be forced to close.

Roger Gould, a stallholder for more than 22 years, has written to Cherwell District Council asking if traders could temporarily use the council's car park in the village while alternative sites were looked into.

Mr Gould said ideally traders wanted the market to move on to High Street, but they realised this needed to be investigated.

He said traders were concerned the market would not start up again if it had to close even for a few weeks.

"Once traders leave it is unlikely they will return," said Mr Gould.

He said traders would run the interim market themselves with any revenue passed on to the council.

The market's longest-serving trader Nick Britton said it drew crowds of people into the village.

But he warned: "If there is more than a three-week break the market will finish."

Kidlington Parish Council has written to the district council asking if a short-term lease could be negotiated on the existing site.

Tony Brummell, Cherwell District Council's chief engineer, said there was already pressure on car park spaces.

He said the market added to the vitality of the village, and he was keen to see it stay, although moving it to High Street was not ideal, due to traffic regulations.

Mr Brummell added if a group of traders approached the council, officers would listen to their concerns and work with them.

Site owner Bill Joynes said he was expecting the land to be sold by the end of the month, but the market would continue until April.