Newent Town Council has decided not to support the ailing Farmers' Market but to push funds into producing two new promotional guides for the town.

A 10,000 run of a tourism guide, the first comprehensive publication of its kind to promote the town, will be go on sale as soon as possible, together with 5,000 leaflets to promote Newent's shops and bring in much-needed shoppers and visitors.

The initiative is a joint venture with the Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

Craig Walker, vice-chairman of the chamber, said: "It's excellent news. Despite recent shop closures, the percentage we've lost is small compared with the number we have."

To promote the variety on offer, the shopping leaflet will be called Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker, all businesses that actually exist in town.

The guide to bring in tourists will be called simply, The Newent Tourism Guide and this will be distributed in Tourist Information Centres, shops and hotels throughout the region.

The mayor of Newent, Coun Fred Passant, said: "We hope to attract more shoppers and visitors and show them the wide range of shops and attractions we have."

Attractions highlighted in the tourism guide will include the Lakeside area and Newent Arboretum.

Newent Town Council met at the Market Hall on Monday evening to debate subsidising the Farmers' Market to the tune of £1,000 a year.

But, though motions were put to reduce the sum to £750, and £250, councillors in a close vote decided not to fund the Farmers' Market at all.

Coun Passant said: "People felt there was a better way to spend the council's town promotion money."

In principle, and though levels of funding are still to be decided, councillors have decided to back the production of the promotional brochures.

Alison Childs, the Farmers' Market organiser for the Forest of Dean District Council, last week told the town council's annual meeting the market would go to Coleford, as a second one there, if the town council failed to provide a £1,000 a year subsidy.

Coun Passant said: "It's a pity we've lost the Farmers' Market, but there was not a lot on sale that you could not get in Newent shops. We have to be fair to all traders."