Belfast City Council have formally been asked by traders at St George’s Market for four weeks of rent free trading.

Traders say the move is due to the impact of the union flag protest marches, which is alleged to have had a devastating effect on business.

Almost every Saturday since December 3 has seen a protest march over the council's decision to stop flying the flag every day.

The march route has included either Queen's Bridge or Albert Bridge, both of which are close to the historic St George's Market.

The chair of the National Market Traders Federation for St George's, Pat Dyer, said some traders are not even making what it costs them to rent a pitch at the market each week.

"Most of them only pay about £15 or £16 per table. There were traders here last weekend who did not even raise enough money to pay for that," he said.

Mr Dyer said traders have now formally asked the council, who are the market's landlords, to make a "goodwill gesture."

"That could be a holiday for three or four weeks where they don't have to pay rent," he said.

He also said that traders have asked for a meeting with Belfast's Lord Mayor Gavin Robinson to discuss the situation.

(H)