The organisers of the Knaresborough Christmas Market have expressed concern over whether this year's event will be able to go ahead following a dispute with Harrogate Borough Council.

It comes just weeks after the council refused to grant a licence for Harrogate Christmas Market because it said the organisers' event management plan did not take into account risks such as overcrowding and terrorism.

The Knaresborough market, which is organised separately to the Harrogate market by a committee of volunteers, is due to be held on the first weekend of December.

The council has given its event management plan the rubber stamp of approval for the past few years. But it has not yet done so this year.

Event management plans set out details of events and are key documents for emergency services and insurers.

Hazel Haas, who organises Knaresborough Christmas market, told the Stray Ferret an issue had arisen this year over ownership of the land where the event takes place and this had prevented its event management plan being ratified.

The market is due to take place in its usual location on Market Place but Ms Haas said she had been informed the council may not be able to approve the plan this year because it does not own the land.

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A council spokesman told the Stray Ferret it did not approve plans for the event because it did not own the land.

When we asked why this appeared to be different from previous years, the spokesman said: