Local councillors have asked for a helping hand in their bid to clamp down on illegal street trading on the streets of Tenby.

Discussing the matter at Tuesday night's meeting of the town council, members said that, despite lobbying the county council for the past few years to place stricter restrictions on street traders and pedlars, they seemed to have got nowhere with their campaign.

They were particularly concerned about those traders who didn't carry legitimate licences and yet were able to set up stalls on the streets of the resort.

"We've been waiting for something to happen and for the authority to come down harder on illegal street trading, yet we've heard nothing in recent months," said Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown.

"Over the Easter period there were nearly as many on the streets of the town as you would find in the summer season.

"Promises were made to county councillor Mike Evans from the authority's streetcare department that something was going to be done last season, yet we're going into a new season and nothing has been done again," she claimed.

Reference was also made to an item from the minutes of the Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism's recent meeting regarding the organisation's own concerns over the matter.

They, too, were planning to contact Pembrokeshire County Council's streetcare manager, Mr. Marc Owen, over the issue, and Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter suggested that perhaps they would have more success in sorting it out.

"Perhaps they can use their force as well; maybe a change of tack would work," she said, with her colleague, Clr. Mrs. Brown, agreeing.

"Where we seem to have failed in sorting this matter out, maybe the Chamber of Trade can succeed," she remarked.

Clr. David Morgan also proposed that they ask the town's new police inspector as to where clamping down on illegal street trading came on the force's list of priorities at the moment.

Councillors agreed to write to the county council again, pointing out their concerns, and to send a letter to the Chamber of Trade in support of their views on illegal street trading.