Stallholders unhappy at the closure of Epping’s Monday market due to the visit of the Tour de France are seeking advice from the National Market Traders Association (NMTA).

Epping Town Council, which operates the market, has decided to close the market on July 7 due to anticipated crowds of 6,000 people watching the sprint finish of Stage 3 of the race.

A NMTA spokesman confirmed Epping traders have been in touch regarding the issue, but refused to comment further.

The council has confirmed it will be seeking compensation for its own loss of revenue and that of traders.

Town clerk Alan Shaw said: “The town council has reluctantly decided there is no alternative but to cancel the market on July 7th, given the draft Travel & Plan received from Essex County Council.”

"Traders are never charged their pitch fees whenever the market is cancelled.

"The town council will certainly be seeking compensation both for its own loss of revenue and the traders'."

Chris Attwooll, who runs a flower stall on the market, said: “It’s good that it’s coming to Epping but we’re losing a day’s money.

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience but we have bills to pay and It's not clear if there will be any compensation.”

Adrian Harrison who runs a clothing stall, said: “We’ll lose money but we still have to pay our bills.

"We can’t tell the gas company we’re not paying because the Tour de France is in town.”

The town council did consider holding the market in the car park of the former St John's School site, or in Hemnall Street, but the logistics of moving the market were considered “too onerous” ,with no guarantee of people visiting the new site.

The organisers of the race have a compensation scheme for those affected along the route and Epping Town Council has said will make representations for reimbursement at a meeting tomorrow organised by Epping Forest District Council.