KENDAL Farmers' Market's new look has completely divided food producers and customers.

Out has gone the marquee, which were expensive to hire but a blessing in the rain, and in have come pop-ups' individual gazebos which were bought by market organisers Made in Cumbria to save money in the long term and to give a more traditional feel to the monthly food gathering in the town's market place.

Jane Merritt, of Old Dairy Baking at Gatebeck, was so incensed by the introduction of the pop-ups that at Friday's market, she organised a petition for objectors to register their disapproval.

"Customers don't want to stand out in the rain and, if there's a wind, these pop-ups could blow down. The whole effect is not an improvement. There's just no atmosphere now."

Round the corner, however, Michelle Partington, of Savin Hill Farm in the Lyth Valley, had nothing but praise for them: "I think they're great. Visually, everyone can see us much better as they walk past. We are the food capital of England here, so let's shout about it."

But neighbouring trader Stewart Lambert, of Kitridding Farm at Old Town, said the pop-ups had destroyed the market's special atmosphere. David Barber, of Hawkshead Trout Farm, agreed, saying that all his customers had given them the thumbs down, as had Rose Woof's at the Stainton Meats stall.

Fishmonger Paul Barrah, on the other hand, thought they were wonderful.

"And our customers like them because they have better access to what we have to offer, especially people in wheelchairs or mums with prams," he commented. "We like them because they allow us to have better contact with the customer. We are 100 per cent for them."

Alistair Swinsco, of A Taste of Greece, attends more than 20 markets a month and he said all of them, with the exception of Kendal, used the pop-ups.

"There is more room for the stallholder and for the customer. They have never been a problem anywhere else," he added.

Market Place shops also seem to prefer the gazebos. Butcher Martin Watson, of Watson & Woollard, commented: "It now looks like a proper continental market rather than a big white tunnel."

Senior marketing officer for Made in Cumbria John Anderson said the pop-ups would be trialled until early spring. "I think it's too early for people to say whether they are a success or not. But, if they don't work, then we will review the situation."

Award-winning Orton Farmers Market has been using the pop-ups for some time. Organiser Jane Brooks said: "There are advantages and disadvantages. For us, the main advantage is that they can be transported easily and put up quickly. This is very important in Orton as we are very conscious of making a racket at 5am on a Saturday.

"With the pop-ups, we don't have to start putting them up until much later and we can do so quietly so we don't disturb the village.

"The main disadvantage is that they are a bit fragile in heavy weather even if they are weighted down. However, we've had no grumbles about them from either customers or stallholders."