HOLDING four seasonal markets every year is the best way to prevent Colchester town centre suffering from out-of-town development, it is claimed.

Don Quinn, who helped to organise a traditional bun hurling event and played a part in Sunday’s returning Colchester Christmas Market, says special events throughout the year can draw in the crowds.

Thousands of shoppers turned out to enjoy the festive food market, in High Street and Mr Quinn says more events like the one at the weekend are badly needed.

He said: “Town centre shops are always complaining that business is moving away from the town centre.

“And yet whenever an event takes place be it the Christmas Market, Big Sunday or the wonderful Invasion Colchester the town is rammed.

“We’re looking into how we would go about holding four different seasonal markets which would all follow the theme of that season.

“So if we held a market in May then we would look to have a maypole and if we held one in April, an Easter bonnet race might be something we discuss.”

Mr Quinn praised the 60 stalls selling food and drink at the Christmas market on Sunday but said he wanted to make future markets even more appealing.

He said: “What we want to do is use the culture of the town and include things such as the Siege of Colchester and the town’s history with gin production.

“In order to succeed, the town centre needs to offer something different to what is available at the out of town places.

“We all know the town centre has issues with car parking but that didn’t stop people making their way into town for the market.

“Town centre shops need to think about why people aren’t coming in when events aren’t taking place.”

Mr Quinn also said discussions are underway to hold a large festival, celebrating Colchester, in 2019.