A pub manager in Cannock who wanted to start a car boot sale to make extra cash during the credit crunch has been forced to call time on the idea.

Ben Rabbitts wanted to run the sales at the Four Crosses Inn, Watling Street, Hatherton. In recent weeks he has had to lay off two waiting staff to help balance the books.

Mr Rabbitts, who runs the pub with his landlord father Tony, had up to 30 potential stallholders who wanted to sell at the first sale planned for this month.

He had advertised on noticeboards and with flyers at the pub and the sales would take place in the rear car park every Monday.

But he was warned off the idea after receiving a phone call from a South Staffordshire Council enforcement officer.

The Rabbitts had spent £100 on mesh netting for the pitches and bought extra food for the kitchen in preparation for hungry bargain hunters.

They came up with the idea as a way of making extra cash during the credit crunch, which has badly affected the licensing trade.

Ben said: “We were just trying to make a little bit extra in the current economic climate to help pay the bills.

“They said we could only hold it in a field up to 14 times a year, but not in our car park.

“I don’t understand why we can’t hold it here. Lots of pubs hold sales of some kind and public events with table top sales or plant sales. So what is the difference? We had a lot of interest, with up to 30 people wanting to sell. It is really frustrating when we’re just trying to make extra money to stay afloat.”

South Staffordshire District Council spokesman Jamie Angus said: “Certain events such as car boot and table top sales can be held without needing planning consent provided that they are on open land.

“However, in this instance, the pub was looking to hold the car boot sales on land within the pub’s boundary and as such would require planning consent from the council.”