A businessman has forced a rethink by councillors after complaining that sales held at a town hall are hitting trade.

Emad Razavi said rug and carpet sales going on three days a month in Thame Town Hall are severely damaging his own business, Tapis Oriental Carpets in North Street.

He said: "Five years ago, we brought a high quality business into the town and we attract customers from all over the country.

"We are here permanently and people know they can come to us and get a good service.

"But we are being undermined by these one-day sales at the town hall.

"Other businesses in Thame are also hit by one-day sales of books, shoes, crockery, pictures and so on.

"The town council should be supporting local traders, not undermining them."

He said that one-day sales disfigured the town with saturation fly-posting.

"If I did that I would be arrested," he added.

Town council general purposes commitee chairman Paul Gleeson said: "We are taking notice of what Mr Razavi has said and we will ask him to talk to the committee and explain his position."

Committee member Beatrice Dobie added: "Allowing carpet sales in the town hall three days a month is excessive and must hit his business.

"We should rethink our whole policy on commercial firms using the hall."

The income from one-day sales helps maintain the town hall.