TOURISM chiefs in Bournemouth have decided not to repeat the controversial German Christmas market in the Square and surrounding streets this year.

Instead, the town centre can look forward to an "Alpine Christmas" attraction, details of which will not be revealed until October.

The German Christmas market was first staged on a trial basis in 2004.

Despite complaints that it was not authentic and took away business from town-centre shops, it was repeated last year, with 46 huts lining Commercial Road, the Square and Old Christchurch Road.

But even before traders started selling their wares, council staff came under fire for putting up stalls in the Square while war veterans were commemorating Armistice Day nearby.

Days later, cabbies were also left fuming when the huts blocked disabled access to the rank outside Boots.

The man who brought the market to the town, Bill Chapman, director of German Christmas Markets Limited, expressed outrage after his five-year contract was cancelled.

Then town-centre manager Kevin Moore, who bore the brunt of the criticisms, resigned due to ill health. No replacement has yet been appointed.

At the time, head of tourism Mark Smith said the German market would be returning in 2006, with fewer stalls concentrated around the pedestrianised areas of the town centre.

But yesterday tourism spokeswoman Beverley White told the Daily Echo: "We won't be having a Christmas market as such this year. We just wanted to give people something different so it doesn't get stale."

She denied that the controversy over last year's market had prompted the decision. "As far as I know, it's just the fact that we wanted to try something different," she added.

"The German market was very popular. If what we want to do isn't as popular, we will bring back the German markets in future years."

She added that interviews for the town-centre manager's job had been taking place and a permanent replacement for Mr Moore would "definitely" be in place in time for the new attraction.