MARKET traders are getting hot under the collar because the main hall is hotter than the heatwave outside.

Large hot pipes in the indoor market have been belting out a few extra degrees and putting customers off.

The traders claim the central heating is on but the council says this not true. Water, however, is being heated so food areas can be cleaned, said a spokesman. As the temperature registered 32C, or about 90F, on Wednesday afternoon stallholders said it has made their job unbearable.

Anne Parkes works on the family stall, Devine’s Footwear, and claimed the heating has been on throughout this month’s heatwave.

“It’s terrible to start with, without having the heating on. We have to beg for heating in the winter and in the damn summer it’s on all the time.

“Whoever controls it should know better than to have it on in this weather, it’s unbearable,” she said.

The Devine family is one of the longest-trading in Barnsley market and members said they have never known it as hot.

Anne’s sister Karen Devine said she was ‘wilting’ and said a market inspector had told her the pipes are hot because the heating is on so hot water can be provided.

But a council spokesman said the hot water and heating were unconnected.

“The warm temperature in the market hall is due to the extremely hot weather. The heating is not on. Water is being heated by the main boiler to enable necessary cleaning of food areas, but the heating is not on.”