THE organisers of farmers' markets around Malvern have been given official certification.

Worcestershire Farmers' Mar-ket Group has received the accolade from the National Association of Farmers' Mar-kets.

It means consumers can be confident that local farmers, growers and bakers are selling their own produce direct to the public at local markets.

The application was made with support from Worcester-shire County Council's trading standards department.

The certification process was introduced after concerns that there is no legal definition of the term "farmers' market", and that it was sometimes being misused.

The Worcestershire group organises a number of monthly markets, including ones at Malvern, Welland and Bushley.