A CARNIVAL pedlar has hit out against “derogatory and malicious” comments from a newly-formed Somerset Carnivals Consortium which urges people to buy from only authorised sellers.

Andy Carter, a South West carnival pedlar from Wiltshire, has responded to consortium claims that sellers from outside of the county do not contribute and says permits are paid to work at events.

He said: “While it is true there are certain pedlars who do not contribute, there is a sizeable proportion of those that do. I suggest the consortium ponder over these points and take into account those pedlars that do contribute.

“They have every right to sell their own merchandise. Don’t feed malicious information to the public regarding pedlars in general, when many pedlars do contribute towards carnival.

“Bridgwater has long had a policy where permits are sold through at the town hall, and they cost between £25 and £40 depending on the nature of the seller.”

Mr Carter said other carnival towns operate similar schemes and stressed the charges were paid voluntarily by pedlars, as they already had the necessary legal authority to trade anywhere in the country.

Mr Carter said: “These genuine pedlars are happy to contribute, as without carnival there would be no trade. To imply that that vast sums are being made off the back of carnivals is false and misleading.”

A total of 14 towns in the county, including Bridgwater, Taunton, Chard and Burnham-on-Sea, formed a consortium and have told the public that profits from items sold will be re-invested in future events.

A spokesman for the Carnival Consortium said: “It is true that a few pedlars do make voluntary donations to some of the carnivals they attend, but the vast majority do not which is the main cause of our concerns.

“It has become an epidemic in recent years with pedlars travelling vast distances. They arrive unannounced and the small amounts which some donate do not reflect the huge profits these pedlars make. After all, they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t making money.”