AN angry butcher who claimed an out of town meat trader on a Sunday car boot sale posed unfair competition, has won his battle.

Brian Ball, aged 64, accused St Helens Council of breaking rules by allowing food to be sold, and lobbied countless meetings, but just days after the Star highlighted his concern, officials climbed down.

Town centre Lib Dem councillor John Beirne also backed Brian’s plea.

After five months, they have booted the North Wales meat trader out of town and ruled that no more food can be sold at the Chalon Way car boot.

Brian’s colleague, John Cogley, general manager of St Helens Meats in Higher Parr Street, said: “I’m made up. We’re paying rates and overheads and can’t afford to open on a Sunday.

“We went to umpteen council meetings. They said they supported ‘buy local’ but this man had a very unfair advantage.

“We used to employ 18 staff a few years ago and now employ nine. We would have had to reduce staff more if this had gone on.”

Brian’s family has been butchers in the town for almost a century.

Deputy Council Leader Barrie Grunewald said: “We have listened to the views of local traders and have agreed that the car boot sale will be restricted to non-food items.

“Certain local traders were concerned about the knock-on effect of rival food outlets at the site and we have listened and acted on those concerns.”

The council originally offered the sites to St Mary’s market traders but when there were no takers, the pitches were given to two out-of-borough retailers.

Councillors felt they would pose no opposition to established retailers as they operated only on a Sunday and the bulk of car boot visitors were from out of town.

However, after listening to local views, the council has honoured its ‘be local buy local’ pledge and banned the sale of food there.