SEDBERGH parish councillors have requested more information on taking over the running of the town's weekly market from South Lakeland District Council.

As part of a Best Value exercise, SLDC is consulting with town and parish councils in Kendal, Ulverston and Kirkby Lonsdale about adopting management of their own street and indoor markets.

A report and action plan will go before the economic development committee for consideration in January.

SLDC's head of highways and public services Morris Brundrett said Sedbergh was consulted first because the Wednesday market in Joss Lane car park had been "bumping along the ground" and was not "terribly buoyant".

"It's an 'in principle' question at the moment - we want to know if the parish council would be prepared to administer the market," he said.

"They are locally based and have contacts with local producers and tradespeople and can perhaps manage it more economically and effectively than we can."

Sedbergh parish clerk John Stanton said there was a feeling among councillors that the market was "dying on its feet" but they were very keen that it continue and wanted more information about taking it over.