ORGANISERS of Minehead's country market will be setting out their stalls for a special event in a last-ditch bid to attract new producers.

The weekly market is due to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year but its future is hanging in the balance because of a desperate shortage of active members.

Although the organisation has 26 members in total, just nine regularly sell their wares at the market, which is held every Friday from 9am to 11.30am in the Friends Meeting House in Bancks Street.

But organisers hope that a special market on July 10 showing the full range of goods currently produced will encourage new producers to join up.

"We desperately need more cooks," said management committee chairman Beryl Corley.

"We produce a wide range of savoury and sweet items and we also have chutney and preserve makers and a honey producer, as well as selling seasonal plants and vegetables.

"But we urgently need some more producers and helpers if we are going to make it to our 20th anniversary.

"At the moment we can barely cover holiday and sickness absences.

"We are really up against the all too common problem facing most organisations with the personnel getting older and not able to contribute so much."

Mrs Corley said producers only needed a health and hygiene certificate to sell their goods, which could be secured online.

"We really hope people will come along to the special market and that we will be able to attract some new people."