WORCESTERSHIRE and Herefordshire food and drink producers are being urged by the region's Chamber of Commerce to consider selling their products in Spain.

A new food and drink roadshow will run in Marbella during November for producers to market their goods to the Spanish market for the 2002 tourist season.

Participants will be able to display their products and meet buyers from different Spanish regions at the roadshow, organised by Food from Britain and Trade Partners UK.

"Herefordshire and Worcestershire have a great variety of food and drink producers ranging from mass market to niche products," said Eric Brown, who is head of international trade at Business Link Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

"With the huge potential of both the tourist and ex-pat markets in Spain, I would urge local firms to seriously consider exporting to this country."

He said invited guests to the roadshow would include importers, distributors, retailers and wholesalers from across Spain.

In 2000, more than 65 million people visited Spain, with 12.5 million of these from Britain.

In addition, there are almost half-a-million British residents who live in Spain and 37 per cent of these live in the Marbella area.

For more information, phone John Vernon, export promoter for Trade Partners UK, on 01372 459115.