SHOPPERS in Blackburn will be able to sample exotic food and tasty barbecue snacks during the Great British Markets Week.

Aziz Kureshi, who runs a salad bar of Asian food on the three-day market, will be giving shoppers samples of his food.

And Paul Bernard, from Barny's Cafe, Penny Street, will be creating mouthwatering barbecue bites in the centre of the three- day market on Wednesday.

The two men are among scores of traders at Blackburn markets who are taking part in a nationwide campaign to encourage shoppers to visit their stalls.

Special events, raffles and half-price sales are part of a week of special activities.

Cash raised from any fund-raising stunts will got to Barnardo's nationwide children's charity.

Barnardo's Blackburn shop are staging their own family entertainment at the store to complement the activities in the market places.

A bouncy castle will be outside the shop on Wednesday and Friday.

Barnardo's shop manager Mr Duncan Seed said: "I hope that as many people as possible support our work during the week."

Chairman for the Great British Market Week, Mr Russell Crawford, said: "Markets are a traditional part of British life offering a quality of service and a friendly atmosphere which arM-4e second to none.

"Through this campaign we will be reminding people just how good their local markets are."

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