A MARKET trader has been given permission to return to work after a run-in with the district council. As reported in last week s Comet, trader Nicky Monk had sold clothes on the same Hitchin market stall since 1990. She had taken time off since Christmas

A MARKET trader has been given permission to return to work after a run-in with the district council.

As reported in last week's Comet, trader Nicky Monk had sold clothes on the same Hitchin market stall since 1990.

She had taken time off since Christmas to care for her partner Joy Critchley, who had also been working on the stall while battling cancer for 12 years, but Joy died on Mother's Day and Ms Monk wanted to return to work.

She informed the market management about her decision but was refused permission to work on the stall as it had since been let to another trader who would not be moved to accommodate her.

This was despite Ms Monk saying the management had been informed about her impending return a few weeks earlier.

However it appears there was a misunderstanding between the council and Ms Monk and she has now received a letter stating that she can return to work and there is a good possibility it will be on the same plot.

Ms Monk said: "I'm happy that I've been offered to return to work on the market but it should never have happened in the first place.

"I had informed them I would be back but they went and put somebody else on the stall."

A council spokesman said Ms Monk has been offered the chance to return to work, but negotiations are still ongoing which could see her return on her original stall.

The spokesman said: "The original problem arose because we understood Ms Monk to have resigned her stall. We therefore let her stall to another trader but, although we have offered her other stalls, there is still a possibility that she will get her original stall back.