Hexham Farmers' Market has marked its 25th anniversary by reflecting on its roots and celebrating the producers and shoppers who make it what it is today.

On September 28, the sellers and organisers of Hexham Farmers' Market formally celebrated its 25th birthday with cake, a display of publicity from its early days, and recognition for the people who set it up. 

They also gifted a hamper made up of goods from the businesses to one lucky shopper, Hexham MP Joe Morris was on hand to draw the name of the winner from Beltingham.

Peter Samsom, manager of the market, said: "There was a really good community atmosphere for the whole of the day, and it's one of the things that I really treasure about the market and about being there.

"It's about bringing people together as much as anything else.

(Image: Hexham Farmers' Market)

"Yes, the food is a great thing and it's nice to have life in the town centre, but it's about the people and the connections between people who live there, people who farm in the area around it, and people who run small-scale food businesses."

The market was among the first in the country and was set-up by Anne Dale, Tamsin Beevor, and Julie Charlton back in 1999.

It has been through quite a few changes since then - from moving to the town centre from Hexham Mart to the producers who have come and gone in that time. 

"We currently still have two people who've been there all those 25 years," said Mr Samson. "There's Louise English who runs Hexham Country Markets and Mari and Geoff who are from Cumberland Mustard."

The Hexham Farmers' Market brings many benefits to the local area. 

It brings people together for a chat and brings life to the town centre.

Shoppers can learn more about the products they're buying and the business-owners can get out an about to meet their customers and find out what they're interested in.

But, it also has a positive economic effect too.

Mr Samsom said: "A pound spent with a producer who farms just outside Hexham or in the Tyne Valley is a pound that goes straight into a local business, it then gets picked up and they use it to buy other local services.

"There's a local economic benefit."