SHOPPERS in East Lancashire prefer local produce and want to Buy British, a survey has revealed.

Farmers' markets, launched six months ago in Colne, have proved so popular that they are now taking place across the North West.

A recent survey carried out by the National Farmers' Union at one of the Colne events revealed that 91.5 per cent of people were there purely to buy local produce.

And demand for British food is soaring even higher in the wake of France's ban on British beef, amid claims that the French feed effluent to their animals.

The number of farmers' markets has increased to 75 nationally in less than a year and the National Farmers' Union believes every town could soon have one.

They have proved a huge success at Asda in Colne since being launched on a monthly basis in July.

They give local farmers and food producers the opportunity to sell their fare direct to shoppers. Farmers' markets are now held in Ulverston, Lancaster, Manchester, Knutsford, Chester and Nantwich, following the success in Colne, and plans are afoot for further events in the New Year.

Markets co-ordinator Gill Shearer, of the NFU, said the number of people attending the markets was a clear indicator of the desire of consumers to buy British.

"People really appreciate being able to buy food straight from the plough to the plate. "Since the news about the French, we have been inundated with calls from members of the public wanting to know where their nearest farmers' market is," she said.

The Colne survey also revealed that 97 per cent of respondents enjoyed using the markets and wanted them to continue.

The research will be discussed in greater detail at an NFU conference, Great British Food, taking place in London this week.

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