Measham Carboot's organisers have defended the decision to re-open this Sunday - saying all necessary safety and distancing measures have been put in place.

The weekly Bosworth Road-based event has not taken place since March when the Government ordered the country into lockdown as a result of the Coronavirus crisis.

But now Mick McCreath plans to stage the Carboot event again from June 7 and insists all precautions have been taken.

A post on Measham Carboot's Facebook page announced the re-opening.

But it led to a number of people voicing their concerns about whether it should be operating while there is still a risk from the outbreak.

However, Mick told Ashby Nub News that he has acted in a similar way to other companies to make sure he can do business safely.

"To put it into perspective, the Facebook post has gone out to 20,000 people, and the comments made are obviously from people who are anti-carboot," he said.

"We have followed the Government guidelines, they say it's much safer outdoors and the vast majority of Coronavirus transmission is done within the home or in hospitals.

"People want to get outside in the sunshine, but we are widening the aisles, normally we have an 8-10feet gap between the booters - now it'll be 20feet.

"We're only putting booters on one side of every aisle. You have all that space and a one-way system will be put into place.

"People will be given written instructions when they come in, detailing the system, we've also paid for a lot of signage.

"We've purchased PPE for all the staff, visors and face masks. We'll have hand sanitisers around the carboot sale which will be detailed on the leaflet everyone gets when they come in.

"There will be requests for everyone not to touch anything unless they intend to buy it.

"We've told all of the sellers to wear a face mask. To the public it's just a request, to the sellers, it's an instruction.

"If they don't want to wear one, we'll say: 'Thank you very much for your support' and see them on their way."

Mick says that his plans been approved by North West Leicestershire District Council's environmental health department.

Traders returning to open market stalls on Monday as part of the Government's plan to gradually reopen the economy.

Mick added: "The council's happy with the situation, we've explained all the measures we've taken.

"We're limiting the numbers to 750 - that might sound a lot but it'll probably equate to 20 people in Aldi.

"There's a wide open space as opposed to being inside a building."

Measham Carboot was criticised for opening on March 22, one day before lockdown Measham carboot closing until further notice.

But Mick said: "The comment we got last time was that no other carboots opened up on the 22nd.

"That was because their fields were too wet and we have a fantastically well drained site at Measham. Possibly one of the best in the country, we were one of the ones dry enough to be able to open.

"But on the 23rd, with the infection on the rise, we decided to close until further notice.

"We pre-empted the Government lockdown by seven or eight hours.

"But we took the decision ourselves."

Mick says that Measham Carboot has been around for 25 years and added: "We've supported hundreds of charitable events.

"We have raised £100,000 for charities over the last 20 years.

"So this is not a case of being all about money and nothing about health.

"But we are a business and need to make a profit, we cannot operate without one.

"After a rainy winter we were in a precarious state financially, so we do need to open. It's the same with the pubs and restaurants and hopefully they'll open up soon. We're all in the same position, but we have to stay safe."

• Measham Carboot is open on Sunday from 5.30am for sellers, 6.45 for the public.