Central location has helped make us best in the business

Chichester's Farmers' Market has been an unsung revelation since it made the move to the centre of the city, drawing in an extra 3,000 people on market days.

Touted as the best in the business by stallholders, the twice-monthly event moved from the Market Avenue car park 18 months ago to where it is now in East and North Streets.

The history of Chichester as a market city goes back to the Roman times when it was known as Noviomagus Reginorum, meaning new market.

Farmers' market co-ordinator Pip Frederick (51) has been running the market for Chichester district council for the past seven months.

"It is an ancient trade that is being kept alive," he said. "There are more than 400 around the country. They are all growing both in popularity and size.

"The Chichester market is renowned as one of the best and the busiest in the south of England.

"It always has been a market community and the same applies to Midhurst and Petworth, they are market towns – I am proud to be carrying on that tradition."