A new monthly market is being proposed for Dorchester.

The idea comes from the group which has been running successful markets in Sherborne and Shaftesbury, attracting crowds of people.

It has been welcomed by the county town's markets committee at a time when other market income is in decline.

The proposers says that the new Dorchester market would be held on a Sunday, once a month, with stalls across a wide area of the town centre including The Borough Gardens, Bowling Alley and South Walks, South Street and Brewery Square.

If agreed the markets would run on the fourth Sunday of the month from April until November next year with the possibility of a trial event before then.

The town's joint markets panel has welcomed the idea with Dorchester Cllr Molly Rennie saying it will provide a welcome boost for tourism and local shoppers.

Sherborne Market Ltd says that it attracts 200 stalls for the Sherborne market and around 80 for Shaftesbury with between 8,000 and 9,000 visitors attracted to the Sherborne market.

In a bid to the Dorchester Joints Markets committee the company says that it would carefully selected traders from its list of more than 500, not to compete directly with Dorchester shops which are open on Sundays and the create a mix which would be attractive to a wide range of shoppers.

"All our market stall holders are local, they make their own products or curate interesting and unique collections. We do not allow mass manufactured products or agents of businesses," said the company.

The business also offers what it describes as "suitcase stalls" for £5 to enable to give businesses a chance to try a new product, or range of products, many later becoming regular pitch holders, or taking up vacant shops units.

The company says that some of its profits is returned to the community – with £7,000 donated in Sherborne last year and support offered for the Mayor's charity in Shaftesbury this year.

The idea of a taster market for Dorchester had been suggested, to take place in October this year, but was rejected because it was felt the timescale was too short to organise it.

Dorchester has held previous markets in the Walks – notably an annual French market.