A Christmas market in Rochester planned for this year has still not received planning permission.

Plans for the fair in the gardens of Rochester Castle were due to be discussed at a council meeting last night (Wednesday), where they were expected to be given the go-ahead.

But officers advised the committee to defer the application so the consultation period could lapse and a full report be prepared.

The Dickens Christmas Market is planned for the first two weeks in December.

Organisers The Dream Workshop, part of a larger company called Albatross which sells trips to coach operators, want to set stalls up in wooden chalets.

If it goes ahead it will run from Friday, December 3 to Sunday, December 19 and there will be traders selling goods including jewellery, cheeses, wooden puzzles and gifts.

A planning application submitted by The Dream Workshop earlier this year was rejected because the company failed to complete a tree survey and did not give enough information.