A charity could be forced to scrap its car boot sales after Mole Valley Council set up a rival event nearby.

Ralph Ibbotson, president of the Leatherhead Lions, said it would be “a bit of a disaster” for the club if the council allows the new boot fair in the Randalls Road car park, Leatherhead, to continue, as it will compete with its own long-running markets at the Leatherhead Leisure Centre.

The charity, which raises about £20,000 a year towards good causes in the area and international disaster appeals, will hold its last car boot sale this year on Sunday, September 19.

Mr Ibbotson said: “We are going to go through with that and see what happens.

“We are going to try and keep it because the public have been behind us, because most of the money we make goes to local charity.

“It would be a bit of a disaster for us and we are already trying to look at other ideas next year in case we can’t do it. We are not giving up on that fundraising but we’ve just got a problem at the moment and we’ve got to solve it.”

He added: “We are obviously worried about it - but there’s nothing we can do about it if the council continue with it.”

Leatherhead South Councillor David Sharland said: “It would be a shame to see [the Leatherhead Lions’ car boot sale] forced out of business by the council.”

Coun Sharland said the Randalls Road market, which is run by Apps Court Farm and started on August 8, could make the authority £5,000 a year.

Councillor Ben Tatham, portfolio holder for finance and assets at Mole Valley Council, suggested the boot fair started on a trial basis, saying it was the most reliable way to test whether it is feasible.

Mr Ibbotson said the Leatherhead Lions, which chose Surrey Air Ambulance and Combat Stress as its main charities this year, could not ask the authority to ensure the two car boot sales do not clash on the same Sundays.

He said: “It would be very difficult to start making demands of the council - but on the other hand if the council look at it sensibly, we do put a lot back into the community.

“We are always willing to help, that wouldn’t change, but it certainly makes it a bit sour if the council want to write us out.”

A spokeswoman from Mole Valley Council said the authority did not want to compete with the Leatherhead Lions.

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