A market trader is celebrating 12 months in business by giving presents to his regular customers.

Italian-born Carlo Ricioppo opened his speciality stall, Melodia Food, on Darwen Three Day Market and says the response has been overwhelming.

One customer travels from Morecambe, and Darwen’s large Italian community come to him for pastas, sauces, meats, oils and sweets he imports from Calabria where he was born and lived before moving to Darwen as a five-year-old.

He said: “When I first opened the stall I was worried I would only last six months, but every-thing has gone well and I am looking to expand.”