by Jenni Horn

A traditional market will not be returning to Rochester this Christmas, despite the number of visitors almost doubling in the first two years.

Bosses at The Dream Workshop have announced it will no longer operate the Dickens Christmas Market in the castle grounds.

Spokesman Bob Cole said: "Despite attracting over 200,000 visitors to the event in 2011, the income derived from our stallholders has proved insufficient to cover the substantial operational and marketing costs associated with the event and, despite our best endeavours and those of our partners, we have been unable to identify any suitable additional sources of revenue to make up this shortfall.

"As a result, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from organising this event."

He added: "We would like to thank everyone who has supported us in this venture and hope to be in a position to bring another outstanding event to Kent at some point in the future."

The inaugural German-style market in 2010 attracted around 120,000 visitors but numbers were thought to have been hampered by heavy snowfall.

In 2011, the opening hours were reduced so the market was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Numbers are thought to have almost doubled during the three-week period and the event attracted up to 100,000 visitors in its first weekend.

Despite objections by high street traders to begin with, the event is thought to have created a boom in businesses in the town centre. Last year it was estimated each visitor to the market spent another £30 in the high street, so it could have benefited the local economy by around £7.5 million.

Is the end of the market a loss for Rochester High Street? Let us know what you think by leaving your comments below. Or emailing medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk