CALLS for a location change to a popular Evesham event have been made after the current venue was called "extremely disrespectful".

The recent Medieval Market in Evesham had a lot of success, with a record 25,000 people in attendance.

However, one attendee said she will not be returning after finding the location, in a church graveyard, to be inappropriate.

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Lynette Mantle, of Grafton, said: "I have attended the medieval market in Evesham and cannot find it in my heart to visit again.

"It is certainly a great event with fun and history for all; however I find that, with all the open space available on the meadow, it is extremely disrespectful to be holding such an event in the church graveyard.

"The meadow is a large space with plenty of good access and is still close to the centre; is there any special reason for desecrating the graveyard?"

This is not the first time the issue has been raised by concerned residents. In 2020, Revd Andrew Spurr, the Vicar of Evesham, defended the decision to hold the medieval market here.

The vicar told the Evesham Journal his position on the matter has not changed.

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This was echoed this year by Mick Hurst, the organiser of the Medieval Market, who said he did understand where the complaint comes from.

He said: "I appreciate and respect everyone has a point of view. However, the church ground has not been used for burials for over 100 years.

"Those who came to the event saw that we are being very respectful of the families of the recently departed, raising vital funds for the Church and highlighting the great work carried out by local charities and community groups, who all have free stalls in St Lawrence's Church.

"Could it be held elsewhere? Maybe, but the whole reason we use the historic heart of our beautiful town is to draw people in the centre, to spend money in the shops, cafes and pubs – this will encourage other tourism retailers to move into the town, which in turn will revitalise the Evesham experience."