A TRADER has been suspended from Machynlleth market while town council chiefs seek legal advice after he was fined £6,000 for serious food hygiene breaches.

Marley Cwmgors Food Limited was ordered to pay a fine of £6,000 and costs of more than £2,500 after a Powys County Council environmental health officer found food on a stall that was past its use-by date and mouldy foods stored in a van next to food that was due to be sold.

While the offences took place at Newtown market, Robert Hodges, the company director, has traded at a stall at Machynlleth market.

Machynlleth Town Council has now suspended Mr Hodges from trading at the market after the conviction.

Town clerk Jim Griffiths warned that the council needed to establish what action it could take legally, but said that if the company was allowed to continue trading at Machynlleth market it could bring it into “disrepute”.

Cllr Noella Griffiths told fellow councillors at a meeting on Monday night: “At the end of the day it is Machynlleth’s name if someone, God forbid, dies from a market-related food-poisoning incident.

“You have to protect the reputation of Machynlleth market as it is growing a reputation for how good it is.”

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