A £1 million transformation of Canterbury's high street does not need to spell the end for the city's market, campaigners say.

The council wants to turn St George's Street into a leafy boulevard with new lighting, seating and performance areas - but crucially no place for stallholders.

But opposition councillors say the market can be integrated into the local authority's vision, and have even unveiled a CGI showing how such a scheme could work.

They now hope a compromise can be reached to secure the future of the market, with many traders fearing they are fighting for survival.

Cllr Mel Dawkins (Lab) said: "We believe it is the market stalls that create the atmosphere and buzz in that space and without them it is just an average high street like you see up and down the country.

"The market traders, stalls and pop-up shops create another point of interest to the city of Canterbury. They encourage visitors and repeat trade.

"Talking to some of the traders, they say that many people will lose their livelihoods if they were no longer able to trade here, selling goods that people actually want and need."

She and fellow Labour members Cllr Pat Edwards and Cllr Pip Hazleton, are now pressing the city council to consider the alternative scheme.

Hundreds of market customers have already signed a petition to keep the stalls, organised by their traders' association chairman Steve Bamber, who has worked in the city centre for 23 years.

He welcomes the support and still hopes the council will consider a compromise.

"We welcome all ideas that improve the street but also benefit the market," he said.

"We appreciate we have to move off the area while its resurfaced and will be spread about a bit in the meantime. But we want to come back and welcome these alternative proposals.

"But we fear the council wants us out to be replaced by some fancy stalls or franchises on pitches they will charge more money for. But they won't actually meet the needs of our many customers and the social hub we provide."

The council says a makeover of a "tired" St George's Street, with the ground currently surfaced with deteriorating 1980s block paving which is a trip hazard.

It has put the plans out to a public consultation, which is due to end on June 21.

The authority says: "It is one of the main shopping areas in the city and, for some, presents a poor impression that reflects badly on the city centre as a whole.

"We are proposing to improve the paving, seating and street lighting and provide cycle racks, as well as decluttering the street, planting 14 new trees and removing five.

"We also need to carefully consider the options for the market as part of this project as there are lots of ways of making use of the space in any new design.

"Options could include the market staying as it is. Equally this could be an opportunity to attract different kinds of street traders and create a fully-flexible space for events, attractions and a whole host of other activities."

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