STREET traders wishing to ply their goods during Wimborne's famous folk festival may need a licence next year over concerns bystanders could be burnt by stray flames from pavement food stalls.

East Dorset licensing chiefs want to designate part of the town centre as consent streets where traders can sell, only if they have the correct licence.

And if the new designations simply shift the health and safety problems to other parts of the town centre during the festival, licensing bosses say they may review the policy for 2009 to widen the area covered.

"During this year's Wimborne Fold festival concerns were expressed about the number of barbecues and open cooking appliances in the crowded streets," said a council spokesman.

"Particular problems occurred in Cook Row and Church Street where the narrowness of the streets meant that the flow of persons resulted in bottlenecks in close proximity to open flames.

"Clearly, if the situation is left unregulated the risk of persons being injured in those areas during the folk festival is high."

The stalls are currently organised by the festival organisers who allocate pitches to those wishing to trade.

However the arrangement relies on the goodwill of the traders, as there are no statutory powers the organisers can enforce.

Council health and safety officials carry out inspections before the start of the festival but their powers stop short of being able to relocate stalls.

The council says it wants to designate Cook Row, Church Street, the Cornmarket, West Row and adjoining areas as consent streets.

Traders would have to apply to sell there for the period of the festival and have conditions imposed, such as ensuring they clean up their area when finished.

Council chiefs must now publicise a notice of intention over the designations and allow the public 28 days to respond.

Licensing bosses will consider these responses in January before making a final decision.