Crash at listed market.A 250-year-old Northumberland market place was in jeopardy last night after a shambolic sham·bol·ic adj. Chiefly British Slang Disorderly or chaotic: "[The country's] transportation system is in a shambolic state" attempt at reversing by a visiting tourist. The historic covered market place, known as the Shambles in Hexham's picturesque square, is in danger of collapsing after a driver reversed a camper van into one of its upright supports last night. The 20square-metre structure was erected in 1776, through the funds of Sir Walter Blackett, and has provided cover during the winter months for generations of traders. But a Northumbria police Northumbria Police is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the areas of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in England. The service is the sixth largest police constabulary in England or Wales. As of April 2005, the current Chief Constable is Mike Craik. spokeswoman last night revealed the entire structure moved after the travel vehicle backed into it at 7.30pm last night. Officials from Tynedale Council rushed to the historic market place, which is overlooked by the imposing 1,300-year-old Hexham Abbey Hexham Abbey is a place of Christian worship in the town of Hexham, Northumberland, in north-east England. There has been a church on the site for over 1300 years since Etheldreda, Queen of Northumbria made a grant of lands to Wilfrid, Bishop of York c.674. , after the crash and took steps to ensure the structure, consisting of a wooden roof on stone columns, survives. A structural engineer assessed the covering and contractors were employed to put up temporary poles to support the Grade II listed structure. The driver of the camper van was arrested by police in relation to the smash and was last night being questioned. The spokeswoman last night said Hexham's famous farmers' market ( held on a Saturday ( was also in doubt, but officials had decided to go ahead. However, traders working nearest the abbey will not be allowed to open their stalls. A spokeswoman said: "A pole is now holding up the structure, which is more than 200 years old. Apparently, the whole structure moved when the camper van went into it. "Obviously the market is held there on Saturdays, but I believe they have decided to go ahead, although the front part ( nearest the Abbey ( will be kept empty." In September, Tynedale Council agreed to take responsibility to illuminate il·lu·mi·nate v. il·lu·mi·nat·ed, il·lu·mi·nat·ing, il·lu·mi·nates v.tr. 1. To provide or brighten with light. 2. To decorate or hang with lights. 3. the Shambles. The council's development control committee agree nine halogen halogen (hăl`əjĕn) [Gr.,=salt-bearing], any of the chemically active elements found in Group 17 of the periodic table; the name applies especially to fluorine (symbol F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), and iodine (I). up-lighters could be installed in the roof of the structure to enable outdoor performances to take place, and to make life easier for traders during the winter. Hexham has been voted Britain's Favourite Market Town by Country Life magazine for the last three years. |
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