LIVE music greeted the monthly Northallerton farmers' market on its first day on a new site on Wednesday.

Months of negotiations with local authorities to secure a better position for the event paid off as 18 stalls were set up beside the town hall, on a site used for a poultry market in the Thirties.

Moving the farmers' market from the Applegarth to the High Street gave the event a higher profile because visitors found it easier to browse among its stalls as well as those run by general Wednesday traders nearby.

A farmers' market was originally set up three years ago at the premises of Sam Turner in Darlington Road but the site was eventually considered to be too far from the town centre.

The event then moved to the Applegarth but farmers and some councillors said this was still not central enough and trade suffered.

At one point Alastair Davy, chairman of the Northern Dales Farmers' Market, said the market was in danger of ending unless a move to the High Street could be agreed.

On Wednesday such fears appeared to have evaporated as visitors bought at stalls selling meat, poultry, sausages, eggs, cakes, biscuits, plants and preserves.

Mr Davy said: "It has gone very well but it has taken about a year to get to this position. I was worried that the market was slowing up on the Applegarth."

He said attendance by traders had been affected by another event in the region but he hoped there would be 20 or more stalls at the next market.

Visitors were treated to a special musical performance by a group of senior amateur players from the area who have worked together for many years.

Accordionist, farmer and district councillor Bert Langthorne, another leading figure behind the market, said: "I promised that when we got the market here I would get the lads together and play to mark the occasion.

"This is the ideal site, much more convenient than the Applegarth, and you can see that people are spending money."

* A vintage single-decker bus visited Northallerton on Monday as Wensleydale Railway ferried passengers to market from trains which had arrived at Leeming Bar station.

The red and cream Guy Arab belonged to Classic Coaches, of Cumbria, and Ruth Annison, marketing director of Wensleydale Railway, said the first such market day shuttle service proved so popular that driver Anthony Hamer had to make double trips. The service runs every Wednesday until October 29.

Mrs Annison said: "We hope this will demonstrate to businesses in Northallerton that, even though our train services do not yet connect with the town, they will be able to benefit.

"Judging by the carrier bags people have been bringing back to the coach they have spent a fortune in Northallerton.

"It was sheer coincidence that the start of our connecting bus service was on the same day of the farmers' market in its new position."

From today Wensleydale Railway is highlighting the fact that rail passengers can also visit the Friday market at Leyburn, although there is no bus connection, until October 31, when the first season of trains ends.