Roadside stalls are causing a traffic hazard on a main road out of Hamilton, a Paget MP said yesterday.

Paget East's Kim Young called for a Police crackdown on illegal vendors and the setting up of a special area off the streets for street market-style selling.

Last night a Police spokesman said officers would take a look at the area and sort out any problems.

Ms Young said Trimingham Hill was traditionally used by fish sellers on Fridays but others had moved in selling other goods like T-shirts.

"There are many people who have called me to express their displeasure about the increase in these vendors,'' she added.

"Trimingham Hill is a main artery out of Hamilton and the customers stopping in their cars to shop and browse have become a traffic hazard and inconvenience to all those on their way home from work.'' And she insisted: "We can't continue this growth of vendors on the side of the road. It looks untidy and tacky.'' Ms Young said: "Trimingham Hill has always had the fish vendors on Friday afternoons and now this is being turned into a flea market-type area with pedlars setting up trestle tables and T-shirts flapping away on hastily constructed clotheslines.'' And she added that the street market image also dented the perception of the Island for visitors.

Ms Young said: "Our visitors are always impressed with the beautiful appearance of our Island -- the pristine cleanliness, trimmed hedges, well-kept gardens and houses -- and this factor has separated us from many other islands for years.

"We should maintain these high standards that have given us such a good quality of life and stem the proliferation of the roadside vendors before we end up looking like everyone else.'' And she called on Police to crack down on traffic problems in the area and check that the stall-keepers all had the appropriate licences.

Ms Young said: "The Police do not seem to be disturbed by this disruption of traffic or moved to investigate whether these vendors have legal permits to sell at all.'' She added: "It has become obvious that small entrepreneurs need a venue to sell their wares instead of causing unsightly displays and traffic congestion on the main thoroughfares.

"Government needs to make available an area that is suitable for these vendors to freely display their goods for sale in a more appropriate manner.'' And she suggested that the Transport Control Department test area on North Street in Pembroke -- which is closed at weekends -- could be used as a market place for stalls on Saturdays.

A Police spokesman said last night: "We will be giving this matter some attention, as we would with all areas when someone has a concern.'' But he pointed out: "This is the first time we've had a complaint from anyone about this and we would invite Ms Young to contact Police directly and let us know her concerns.''