TRADERS on Colne's Farmers' Market were delighted to be paid a visit by local councillors this weekend in a bid to promote local produce after the foot and mouth crisis.

The Pendle Farmers' Markets, in Nelson and Colne, started in September 2000 but in February 2001 they had to be cancelled due to the outbreak.

Both markets restarted in October last year but the number of farmers attending the markets has not yet built up to the level it reached before the outbreak.

County councillor Tim Ormrod, who is cabinet member for rural affairs and was chairman of the Lancashire foot and mouth taskforce, talked to stallholders about the effect the outbreak had on them.

He was joined by his wife, county councillor Dorothy Ormrod, and Colne councillor Ian Tweedie.

Coun Ormrod said: "The strategy is for me to visit a number of farmers' markets in the area to try to promote to people that it is a good thing to buy local produce and try to turn around the decline suffered in the area because it took a heck of a pasting through foot and mouth."

He added: "The traders were very pleased that we had turned up and hopefully as the days continue to get longer and better the market will go from strength to strength."