Shoppers at Oxford's Covered Market are being urged to sign a petition against huge rent rises facing traders.

Oxford City Council, the landlord of the market, has warned tenants that rents could double as part of a five-year review of leases and rents.

Traders fear the rent hike will drive many of them out of business and could lead to the nature of the traditional market being changed forever.

They are calling on customers to sign a petition in support of their fight for a 'realistic rent' to allow the market to remain as it is. Hundreds have already put pen to paper.

Sandie Griffith, secretary of the Covered Market Tenants' Association, said: "The Covered Market is unique - it is difficult to match us with anything else in the city centre.

"We do not want to create any bad feeling with the council but there are a lot of people in here who will be seriously threatened if the rents were to go up at the rate they are asking. The average is 70-80 per cent." Surveyors representing market traders are negotiating with council officers to reduce the level of the rent increases. City councillors will make a final decision in the next few months.

Ms Griffith added: "Trade in the covered market has diminished dramatically over the years. People do not come here to buy their weekly shop any more.

"The people have got to support us by using the Covered Market and the city council has got to support us by giving us a reasonable rent."

Cllr Pat Stannard, chairman of the city council's city management committee, which will decide the final rent level, said everything would be done to protect the market.

He said: "The council is under an obligation to get the best rents for the taxpayer. If we were to start saying 'here is a special rent for the covered market', then people would say we are not meeting that obligation.

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