Shoppers can look forward to a welcome return on Friday, as Egremont farmers, craft and fairtrade market will be back again in Egremont Market Hall, Market Street.

The market, which has been going for about 17 years, will reopen from 9.30am to 12.30pm. There will be a limited number of stalls, spaced for social distancing between traders.

Stalls include: Shaw Meats, from Wigton; Creative Seafoods, from Morecambe; Kick-ass Cheese; Helen’s herbs; Pat Crichton’s fresh vegetables and flowers; Barks Wilson Pies & More; Felted & Fleece which makes items from Herdwick fleece; Kim Willoughby from Lakes Leather Studio with her range of handbages, Thompson Bakery from Frizington for fresh bread; Hospice at Home’s jams and preserves stall and Hill Green design, which makes wood products with a laser cutter.

Chair of the committee, Helen Shipton-Smith said: “On behalf of the committee we are really pleased that together we have managed to make it work again, in partner with Egremont Town council.

“We have had to limit ourselves to 12 stalls, two tables, because we need to put 2 metres between the stalls.

"There won't be any teas or coffees or music."

Helen added that they have been frequently asked when the popular market was going to restart. She said: "We’ve had so many people enquiring when it will start again and local councillors will assist to see the smooth running of everything and that health and safety is carried out."

Customers will sanitise their hands on entry and follow a one-way system to help with the safe movement through the hall.

Everyone must enter through the main doors and leave through the fire doors and numbers will be limited inside the hall.

Toilets will be open for customers, but there will not be any music available or refreshments on sale, but there will be lots of locally produced food and crafts.

Local councillors have volunteered to attend to help everyone stay safe and enjoy the first market back, for which the Egremont fairtrade town company group committee are grateful.