Carousel operators booted off the pitch where their family had worked for nearly two decades this week presented a petition with nearly 1,700 signatures to Hounslow Council.

John Buckland and his brother Nathan lost their licence to trade outside the Treaty Centre, in Hounslow High Street, from the end of May this year.

The council, which also refused to renew the licence of jacket potato sellers Robert and Natalie Bunn, does not want stalls cluttering the shopping parade, which is undergoing a £2.75 million regeneration.

It said it has offered traders the chance to be part of a new part at the western end of the High Street, by Bell Corner.

John Buckland presented a 1,697 signature petition at Tuesday's (July 15) borough council meeting demanding his licence be reinstated.

He said he had been offered a plot at the western end of the High Street in principle, only to be told he could not apply for a licence until the new market operators were in place.

However, he said the market was not expected to open until late September at the earliest, and with the school holidays about to begin, he would miss out on his most lucrative time of the year.

"I'm in complete limbo. It's like they gave me an offer, only to take it away. I'm struggling to pay the bills and keep my household going," he added.

The Bucklands and the Bunns both claim they were assured within the last two years by council officers that their future on the High Street was safe.

Natalie and Robert Bunn outside their jacket potato stall in Hounslow High Street

Mrs Bunn, who has two young children, said she was tired of being 'messed around' and had decided to sell their food unit as they had been unable to find an alternative pitch on which to trade.

Although the traders initially defied the ban, with the Bucklands offering children free rides to highlight their cause, Mrs Bunn said they had ceased trading after receiving an official warning from the council.

She claimed they were being penalised for trying to operate within the law, with the council failing to take similar action against other traders operating illegally in Hounslow High Street.

getwestlondon has contacted Hounslow Council and is waiting for a comment.