A community-run farm on the Norfolk-Suffolk border has moved a step closer to reality after more than 100 people attended a public meeting.

Officials behind the Diss Community Farm project spoke of their delight yesterday after dozens of local residents signed up to the scheme.

Organisers received such a good response to their first public meeting at the weekend that they have decided to go-ahead with setting up the initiative.

Coordinator Angela Lamb said around 40 people have already signed up to become members of the community farm, which is enough to get the project off the ground.

'We had a fantastic response and it means that we are going to get it up and running and we think it will grow from there. We are going to set up a number of working groups to set up a formal organisation, look at the legal structure, membership and social events,' she said.

A eight-acre field just off the A1066 between Roydon and Bressingham has already been suggested as a site for the community farm, which would give local people more opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables and reduce their food miles.

Members of the community project would get a weekly share of the produce and organisers hope to employ their own grower to do the majority of the farm work.

Mrs Lamb added that the social aspect of the initiative was just as important as growing more local produce.

Another public meeting will take place from 7.30pm on Friday, March 4 at Roydon Village Hall for people who want to learn more about the community farm.

For more information, visit the website at dissfoodcommunity.wordpress.com, email disscommunityfarm@yahoo.co.uk or call 01379 641878.