AN award-winning Sunday market has celebrated its first successful year after boosting the number of shoppers in a North-East town.

The Sunday People’s Market, held on the first Sunday of each month in Darlington town centre, has quickly become a fixture in the market calendar and attracts independent traders from across the North-East.

Set up in August last year, the aim of the market was to increase footfall in Darlington on Sundays and give smaller traders the chance to sell their goods.

The market proved so successful that it beat off competition from across the country to be named Britain's favourite market by the National Association of British Market Authorities in February.

Market organisers Alex and Sam Blackham said they pride themselves on offering a diverse range of goods and traders not usually seen in the town.

Mrs Blackham said: “It’s quite stressful at time and I’ve learnt as I’ve gone along, but we’ve got ten new traders here today for the first time.

“The footfall figures show that when the market is here on a Sunday, there is a big rise in the number of people in the town compared to other Sundays. It’s been absolutely amazing, the whole thing.”

Sarah Oatley, who runs craft stall Drawn Threads, has been a fixture at the market since the first month.

She said: “I love it because it is a people’s market , a local market. It’s all about the people of Darlington helping the town centre.

“It’s about trying as a community to push Darlington and if we don’t do that we could lose it.”

Dave Baker, also known as The Moody Baker, travels to Darlington from his base in Barnard Castle to take part.

He said: “I like the fact that it’s nice and central and that it’s organised by people with a genuine interest in seeing it become a success.”

The market operates with the support of Darlington Borough Council’s markets team, who ensure it does not damage the offer found at the town’s traditional Monday and Saturday markets.

Albert Nowicki, senior markets officer, said: “There are some very individual traders who are very different to what we usually see in the markets here. Some are fledging businesses starting out and who knows what they could do.”

For more information visit facebook.com/dspmsundays. To book a stall email dspm.darlington@live.co.uk