Income from Dorchester's weekly Wednesday market and the Sunday car boot sales have more than halved in the year to November.

Although the Wednesday market continues to operate the weekend sales have been stopped by Government restrictions.

To the end of November accounts from market operators, Ensors, show a drop from the expected income of £69,000 for the period, to £33,500.

To add to the financial problems the overall market operation is expecting a £4,800 bad debt for the year against the Farmers Market income budget. That business is run by a separate company from Ensors which manages the Wednesday market and car boot.

Profits from all of the town's markets are shared 65-35 between Dorset Council and Dorchester Town Council.

Income from the car boot sales are given to a community fund which is donated each year to local charitable organisations. This year that is only expected to receive £7,600, compared to the budget estimate of £18,900.

Some of these figures could change by the end of the financial year with new government restrictions now expected to continue until at least March and recent damage to market buildings which may cost more to repair than has been budgeted for in the annual repairs and maintenance fund.

The Dorchester markets joint panel heard positive public comments about the importance of the market with some thanking the operators and traders for keeping it going throughout the pandemic.