ORGANISERS of a car boot sale which raises valuable school funds have been left devastated by a council ruling limiting the event to 12 sales a year.

The sale at Abbey Hulton Primary School was set up eight years ago, and until the end of last year it had been held every Sunday.

But Stoke-on-Trent City Council has now told organisers the school is only licensed for 12 sales in a 12-month period, so the event has been restricted to one Sunday a month.

Keith and Linda Murfin, from Eaton Park, started the sale to raise some extra cash for the school.

The couple's three children all went to Abbey Hulton Primary, and they now have grandchildren who are pupils.

Keith, aged 60, said: "We started it to help with school funds to save them having to put in to the council for grants.

"It started off with six or seven cars and it has built up over the years.

"I was gutted when I found out we were only going to be able to have it once a month. I think the council should be lenient because it's helping the school."

Stallholders pay £5 for a pitch outside, or £6 for a spot inside the school. All this money goes to the school.

Linda, aged 61, said: "It worked out at an average of £100 a week. The headteacher has told us they rely on the money."

Ann White, aged 56, from Bentilee, has been selling regularly at the event since it began.

She said: "I can't understand why it can't carry on every week because it's doing so much for the school."

Kathleen Dawson, aged 53, comes from Porthill to trade at the sale.

She said: "It's utterly ridiculous. They will probably lose a lot of traders because of this and the school is going to suffer."

People browsing the stalls were also upset by the change.

Bill Goodwin, aged 65, from Meir Park, said: "This is just pettiness. We are in a credit crunch and this event is making money and letting people make a bit extra."

Gwyneth Taylor and Wendy Martin, aged 57, are also regulars at the sale.

Gwyneth, from Abbey Hulton, said: "We've been coming since it started and we have already got withdrawal symptoms."

Councillor Adrian Knapper said there were rules on the number of car boot sales held to prevent sales from becoming like a market.

He said: "Car boot sales are designed to be not-for-profit sales of second-hand goods and not a commercial market style event. The school has only ever been licensed to hold 12 car boot sales in any 12-month period.

"Recently it has been brought to the council's attention that extra car boot sales were being operated. Following discussions with the school a license has now been agreed for 12 car boot sales a year."