STOCKTON'S first continental market will be held on the High Street later this month.

The market will come to town on Thursday, September 18, Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20 and will have 30 food and craft stalls.

Traders wearing traditional national costumes from France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Holland, Poland among others will be offering a taste of the continent from 10am to 4pm.

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: “Although we have wanted to host a specialist continental market in Stockton for a number of years we were unable to accommodate such a large event on the High Street for three days.

“But thanks to the multi-million pound regeneration scheme the town centre is transforming and the new dedicated events space at the northern end of the High Street is the perfect place for this specialist market – easy for shoppers and visitors to access.

“Come along to sample the tastes, sights, sounds and smells of all the wonderful continental produce. Shop among traders in traditional costume and experience a true flavour of the continent right here, for the first time in Stockton.”