COMMUNITY gardners used their own produce to make soup and raise nearly £200 at a well-attended farmers' market on Saturday.

Saltburn Farmers' Market was packed as the autumn sun shone and the soup sold out before lunchtime.

Sue Featherstone, Saltburn Allotment Association secretary, said: "We've had a fantastic day, and made a profit of just short of £200 from our regular monthly stall.

"This was largely thanks to sales of our delicious Farmers' Market soups, both of which sold out before lunchtime.

"And while people were waiting to be served, they also took time to see what else we had to offer on our stall.

"This included chutneys and jams made from allotment holders' ingredients, fresh vegetables picked on the morning of the market itself, and some lovely mossy baskets filled with winter flowers.

"The mossy baskets were made by learners from our Grow And Learn allotment garden training course, and funds raised from their sale will go towards next year's course. The rest of our profits will go to benefit our plotholders.

"We currently have 160 allotments, with at least two-thirds of each garden used solely to grow fresh fruit and veg, and I think the Farmers' Market is a great place to come and buy good quality, locally produced seasonal food."

The next Saltburn Farmers' Market is a Christmas special on Saturday, December 10. It will feature 25 stalls, including a great mix of locally-produced seasonal food, drink and artworks, and will take place outside Sainsbury's, near Saltburn railway station, between 9am and 3pm.