A FARMERS' market launched after last year's foot-and-mouth crisis has proved so successful it is set for a major expansion.

Farmers have been selling their home-grown produce at a monthly market in Richmond for several months, and next Saturday they are to launch a monthly event in Leyburn.

If all goes well, it will be followed later in the year by similar regular markets in Thirsk, Bedale and Northallerton.

The Northern Dales Farmers' Markets was set up in conjunction with the Northern Dales Meat Initiative and now operates as a limited company in its own right.

Chairman Alastair Davy, who farms at Marrick, near Richmond, described the expansion as an important turning point for rural recovery.

He said: "The market began as a small monthly event in Richmond in an effort to fight back after foot and mouth and we have always been self-financing.

"We have a body of regular and committed stallholders, plenty of loyal customers, and the support of many local councils.

"The markets have been a tremendous boost for many farmers' livelihoods and we have great plans for future growth."

The company is now applying for a grant under Defra's English Rural Development Plan and if the application is successful it is hoping to use the funding to purchase a generator, a fridge and further stalls.

A full-time market manager is also to be appointed to co-ordinate a programme of regular markets and help attract additional stallholders.

Once appointed, he or she will also be asked to launch a website offering online trading.

Markets will continue in Richmond on the third Saturday of the month, with a market in Leyburn every fourth Saturday.

If everything goes according to plan, stallholders will visit Thirsk on the second Monday of the month and, by September, Bedale on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Meanwhile, the county council is to be asked to approve plans for a market in Northallerton on the fourth Friday of the month to be held in the Applegarth car park, beginning in October.

Farmers wanting stalls should contact Alastair Davy for more information on (01748) 884414.