Old markets 'replaced by gourmet food stalls'

London's traditional markets are at risk of being replaced with gourmet farmers' markets aimed at wealthier consumers, it is claimed.

A study found a move from cheap stalls catering for the working classes to specialist goods, such as organic meats and cheeses, bought by "metrosexual" Londoners. A total of 46 specialist and farmers' markets have appeared in the past decade while others considered the "heart" of communities are in serious decline.

Dee Doocey, who headed the London Assembly investigation, said: " London's markets have traditionally been a place where anyone and everyone can shop. It would be a shame if, in a few years, all that were left were a few gourmet markets aimed only at an affluent minority."

The report said Petticoat Lane faced "a potentially uncertain future" partly because it is just inside the congestion charge boundary. Traders must pay the £8 weekday levy to unload vans. The Assembly plans to write to Transport for London asking for the zone boundary to be redrawn around the market.

It has 155 pitches but the report said: "When we visited on a Tuesday in October, there were hardly any stalls and a handful of customers - it appeared to be a 'ghost town'."

However, there were success stories, such as Queen's market in Newham, estimated to generate £13million a year, and Lewisham with an annual £ 3.6million turnover. Both were cheaper than nearby supermarkets. At the premium end, Borough market had learned from foreign operations and built links with Budapest and Turin. Also, food from was more likely to have been sourced locally and use less packaging.

The report said London has 180 markets - 63 more than a decade ago - but council-managed ones faced a survival battle against dwindling sales, supermarket competition and rising rents. It called for greater protection and promotion of markets.