CHIPPING Norton's first farmers' market proved a big hit with stallholders and shoppers alike.

It was held last Thursday when the sunshine certainly seemed to bring out the shoppers, much to the delight of stallholders, such as organic farmer Mark Payne.

Mr Payne, of Loxley, near Stratford, said: "We have been very well-received and I think the weather has made it that bit better."

He has been taking his organic meats to farmers' markets around the region for the last 12 months and was full of praise for the idea, saying: "It has given us that link to the customer."

Shoppers too were busily spending their pennies, among them Mrs Judith Wainer, who was visiting the area from Bletchley with her family.

She said: "We didn't know this was on, but it's really good."

The market is part of a pilot project being run by West Oxfordshire District Council to see whether people in the area would support a regular programme of markets.

Others are taking place in Witney, Carterton and Bampton, all taking stallholders from within a 20-mile radius of the host town.

Future farmers' markets in Chipping Norton are planned for September 28 and October 26.

Officers will then discuss whether the markets have been a success and should continue.

Town councillors in Chippy have said they too will wait to see the result of the pilot scheme before deciding whether to agree to any requests to provide financial support in the future.

The aim of the markets is to allow farmers and growers to sell produce direct to customers, who in turn can buy fresh food they know has been produced locally.