Acle Farmers Market still going strong after more than a decade in the church hall

Acle Church Hall on market day. Picture: David Hannant (Image: Archant)

However, once a month it becomes a hub of local produce, from fruit and vegetables, to meat and bread.

On the second Saturday of each month it hosts the Acle Farmers Market, a coming together of regional producers proving fresh, locally-sourced goodies in support of the church.

Originally set up in October 2006, the market has been going for more than a decade, making it one of the county's oldest of its kind and sees around a dozen traders setting up stalls.

As well as food produce, including cheese, pork products and fish, the market also welcomes crafts stalls and each month invites one charity to set up a stall free of charge.

Ann Adey, one of the organisers, said: 'There's not really anything like this in Acle. As well as being a market it is a community thing as well - people can come along, do their shopping and also stay for a cup of tea and a chat.'

Mrs Adey, church warden for Beighton All Saints - one of the other churches in the diocese - got involved in organising the event around six years ago, after hearing of a shortage of volunteers. She added: 'Everybody who helps set up the hall on market day is a volunteer so there is a real community feel about the event. I got involved because I did not want to see it collapse.'

Jason Tipple of Tipples Brewery is one of the founding stall holders. He said: 'We have around 10-12 stalls coming every time selling a real variety of different products and lots of people come in and meet up in the community café.

'Stall holders have come and gone over the years but it's great that we've kept it going for so long.'

Stall holders included Prime Catch fishmongers from Lowestoft, Copland Family Bakers from Gorleston and Kelda's Kitchen cakes and deserts stall from South Walsham.

For more information on the market, or to get involved, contact Mrs Adey on 01493 700414.