A TOWN is officially going green and organic.

Asparagus, organic chocolate and ice cream, beer and home-prepared fruit juice are among the items that will be on offer at Middlesbrough's green market - the first in the area.

There will be handicrafts made from recycled materials, second hand books, revamped clothes and homoeopathic therapies on sale.

The green market will be held to the accompaniment of an orchestra of "recycled" instruments, including old boilers and exhaust pipes.

Barbara Buckton, of the Middlesbrough environment watchdog, Environment City, said: "The idea came from the fact we wanted to raise awareness among local people of how easy it is to buy produce and healthy, environmentally-friendly goods and services. It is to give people an opportunity of finding out about recycling locally.

"Quite often people go to a supermarket to buy goods that have travelled halfway across the world, not realising they can buy goods or services 10 minutes from where they live."

The green market is being held next month, as part of Middlesbrough's Environment Festival 2000.

David Counsell, director of Environment City, said: "The festival is all about looking after the environment as well as ourselves. Doing our bit to purchase local goods or products which we know have been produced in an environmentally-friendly way is something we can easily do.

"The market will let people know what is available locally."

Valerie Hay, of the Environment Agency, said: "This is a great opportunity for the people of Middlesbrough to find our what's available in their area and also get involved in Festival 2000."