Active promotion to tour operators and new night and vintage markets are among ideas being considered to help support St Albans markets.

St Albans City and Distict Council is currently drawing up a five-year plan to develop the markets and increase their contribution to the city's vitality.

While the markets are popular, there is still room for improvement. The Wednesday and Saturday Charter markets, the Farmers' Market, which takes place every second Sunday in the month, and extra markets running up to Christmas, are just a few of the markets the council are looking to improve.

Steps are already being taken to develop the markets with the introduction of the food quarter at the Wednesday market and the annual Christmas Market.

At a meeting on October 23, Cabinet received a report setting out the actions being considered to improve the markets'.

These included increasing the number of stalls and introducting pop up stalls, as well as developing the ability to reconfigure the markets for different locations and events and creating new opportunities for start-up businesses.

Other actions being considered included promotion on social media and to tour operators, and piloting new vintage and night markets.

Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism for St Albans City and Deistrict Council, said: "The markets are a key feature of St Albans.

The markets not only enhance the character of the City, they also attract visitors helping to generate footfall for local businesses. It is a key priority for the council to review the markets this year and to develop a plan for them. We are speaking to a wide range of stakeholders including traders as part of this process.

"New ideas that are emerging include niche markets, flexible "pop up" stalls and a more co-ordinated approach to promoting the markets alongside key events in the city. We hope to publish the five-year plan for the markets in 2015."

More information about the markets review is available in the papers for the Cabinet meeting at http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?Committeeld=117 and the meeting can be watched on the council's website at http://www.stalbans.ukcouncil.net/site/