This ancient law stops Sunderland from holding a regular market within six and two-thirds miles of the one in South Shields, as I discovered to my bemusement when I enquired about opening a market on the seafront, outside my hotel and restaurant, the Pullman Lodge.

Not only is there strong local demand for a market, but hosting it where I propose would bring people to the currently under-used seafront and perhaps restore a beautiful stretch of Sunderland to its former glory.

My application to Sunderland City Council was approved, as the market will be held on my company land.

However, the donkey's tail started swinging when I applied to South Tyneside Council.
Their ancient ruling means that they can object to a rival venture anywhere within a day's donkey ride - held to be six-and-two-thirds miles - of an existing market held under Royal Charter.

South Shields was given permission to hold a market in the 1200s - and its council has since used the law to bar a market in Sunderland city centre.

So, 700 years later, this market is needed and wanted by the people of Sunderland more than ever - this has been demonstrated in the support we've received since going public with our plans - and it will have no effect business-wise on the markets in South Shields, as I'd be holding it on a Sunday, whilst theirs is on a Wednesday and Saturday. They've agreed to look at it again, and I'm hoping they'll see sense. It's 2010, not 1210.

In the meantime, any messages of support are most welcome, so that if my application is denied I can go back to the council to show how much people want a market in Sunderland.