The new Devizes Farmers’ Market, starting on Saturday, may be small to start with but organisers are confident it will soon rival the present offering.

AThe market operates on the first Saturday of each month and will also be run on the third Saturday of the month, starting on July 19.

The expansion has been made possible due to a grant of £1,000 from Devizes Area Board, which has bought new umbrellas and repaired ones to cover the stalls.

There are regularly more than 20 stalls at the market in Market Place.

Sue Thomson, administrator for Wiltshire Farmers’ Markets, said: “I have always had it in mind we could take Devizes up to 30 stalls but we didn’t have enough umbrellas.

"It’s a really popular market with customers and traders so we thought why not take it to twice a month?

“The third Saturday may be slightly smaller to start with because we won’t repeat all the traders at the existing market.

"There are some traders who won’t go twice monthly, but we have got new traders coming in.”

Devizes Farmers’ Market started in 2001 and follows other farmers’ markets that have increased in frequency, including in Salisbury and Chippenham.

Jane Wormel, of Healed Earth Organics near Potterne, is a regular trader at Devizes Farmers’ Market and is on the committee.

She said: “We have had a lot of support since we started at the farmers’ market six years ago. The demand seems to be there for it to go twice monthly.

"We can make room for more traders and there are other smaller producers waiting in the wings to sell their stuff.”

Richard Rogers, community area manager for Devizes Area Board, said: “The board is committed to helping make Devizes town centre a vibrant place. We are therefore delighted to be able to support the expansion of the farmers’ market which contributes to the local economy, brings people into the Market Place and connects them with the producers of their food.”

Regular products at Devizes Farmers’ Market include freshly picked, conventionally grown and organic vegetables, a good range of meat cuts and prepared products, cheeses, breads, cakes, pastries, beers and locally crafted wooden garden items.

Devizes Farmers’ Market operates from 9am to 1pm. For more details, call Sue Thomson on 07541 762497.