BUSINESS is booming at Chester-le-Street's refurbished market place - with stallholders at a new farmers' market reporting an increase in sales.

Farmers' markets, held once a month on every second Friday as part of the traditional market day, feature local produce including soaps and wild game, pickles, fudge and organic vegetables.

Barrie Clarke, of North Country Lass, in Meadowfield, which sells game pies, said: "Business has been going steadily. More and more people are getting to know - so the farmers' market is building up."

Alison Sayer, of Alison's Country Pantry, in Grassholme, Middleton-in-Teesdale, said: "It is going well. The first farmers' market day was a bit slow, but it picked up at the second one. People here are very enthusiastic about it."

The refurbished market place has 150 stands and stalls - 100 permanent stalls and 50 self-erect stalls.