The eggs were frying and the sausages were sizzling in Beccles on Saturday morning as some of the finest local produce was given away for free.

Beccles Farmers' Market was celebrating Farmhouse Breakfast Week and saying a big thank you to its loyal customers over the past 12 months as it served fry-ups.

There was locally produced sausages, eggs, bacon, mushrooms and rolls on offer as hungry customers queued up patiently to tuck in to some of the finest food the market has to offer.

The give away was held to coincide with Farmhouse Breakfast Week, which officially started today.

The week is an annual campaign run by HGCA, the cereals and oilseeds division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, to raise awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and promote local produce.

Events in Norfolk today included a local English breakfast at The Thompson Chequers, Thompson, near Watton, and an organic breakfast at Holt Hall Environmental and Outdoor Learning centre.

As well as coinciding with the national week, the stall holders at Beccles Farmers' Market, which is held every first and third Saturday of the month at Ellough Airfield, wanted to thank their customers for their business over the past 12 months.

Elizabeth Hall, who is the market co-organiser and Hundred River Beef stall holder, said: 'We wanted to do a promotion to thank our customers for their continued support over the last 12 months and here's to the next 12 months.

'All the items cooked have been donated by the stall holders.'

The market, which has been running for just short of 12 years, is Farma-certified with all stall holders working within a 50 mile radius and the majority of food locally produced and sourced.

None closer than the beef and ice cream on Hundred River Beef's stall which comes from two fields in Hulver Street, just yards from the market.

Other stalls include pork, lamb, eggs, chillis, fruit and vegetables, flowers, pastries, preserves and cakes.

Contributing rolls to the breakfast were Eugene and Shona Smith, who also run Glendower Bakery in Pakefield.

Mr Smith said: 'Everything is fresh and locally made and I think the regulars definitely appreciate that.'

Among those enjoying the breakfast was Steve Sadler, from Worlingham, who goes to the market seven or eight times a year.

He said: 'It is because it gives a difference selection to the foods in the supermarkets and I like to support what is on my doorstep.'

Barry and Karen Harris, of Beccles, are also regulars to the market, and Mrs Harris said that it was particularly important to her as she is allergic to a number of preservatives, artificial flavours and colours, making supermarket shopping very difficult.