WEST Somerset Farmers Market celebrated its first birthday in a venue that has proved its most successful. The market has been running for almost a decade, first as a monthly enterprise, rising to fortnightly and now weekly. Over the years it has been based in venues ranging from St John's Ambulance Hall in North Road to the United Reform Church in Bancks Street. But a year ago it relocated to the Parade, part of which is closed off to traffic for the regular Friday event. The anniversary was marked by the cutting of a birthday cake, made by jam and chutney maker Jill Liddell-Grainger, wife of local MP Ian Liddell- Grainger, who is one of the 25 producers registered with the market. Penny Webber, whose husband Roger is the market chairman and an organic meat producer, said the town centre location was certainly the best venue for the market. "People always say the town has a lovely feel about it on market day," she said. Many of the producers have to share a stall and so successful is the market that West Somerset Council's cabinet will be asked at its meeting next Wednesday to consider allowing nearby Wellington Square to be used as an overflow for at least a further six stalls. "We already have a waiting list, although we are very strict on ensuring that all the producers meet our criteria, which is to be as local as possible," said Penny. Minehead's vicar the Rev Simon Lloyd is pictured cutting an anniversary cake with, from the left, organic chicken producer Edwin Keenan, West Somerset Council economic development and tourism portfolio holder Cllr Michael Downes, market treasurer Margaret Heard, market secretary Kay Rees, Jill Liddell-Grainger and Minehead Town Council clerk Sue Sanders. Photo: Steve Guscott.