COMMUNITY groups have come up with the perfect way to market their village.

Visitors to Middleton-in-Teesdale will have a choice of three monthly markets on the same day after organisers joined forces in an effort to attract more people to the village.

On the last Sunday of the month between April and October, visitors will be able to attend a car boot sale at the auction mart, a farmers' market on the village green and a craft and collectors fayre in the Masonic Hall.

Ian Tallentire, chairman of the Middleton Plus Development Trust, which organises the farmers' market, said: “The real plus point of having three events tied in together is to make Middleton more of a destination.

“Hopefully, it was also bring in trade for the pubs and cafes.”

While the farmers' market is a firm fixture in the village, attracting up to 10 stalls each month, the car boot sale and craft and collectors fayre are new.

Jane Addison, organiser of the craft and collectors fayre, said: “I became aware of just how many talented people there are in the area who did not have a venue to sell.”

The car boot sales are being staged by the Durham Dales Enterprise Community Interest Company, which is developing new business units at the auction mart.

Organiser Emma Spry said: “There isn't a car boot sale on this side of the county and it will also make use of the mart, which is already operating as a market, so it's a natural progression.”

Other community groups are also being offered the chance to run the mart cafe during car boot sales to raise money for their own funds.

So far, the Utass Youth Group, Forest in Teesdale Family group and the 1st Middleton Scouts have signed up but organisers hope to have a different group for each of the seven boot sales over the summer.

The first event takes place on Sunday, April 27. The car boot sale is open to sellers from 8.30am and for buyers from 10am to 2pm. The farmers' market is 10am to 2pm and the craft and collectors fayre runs from 11am to 3pm.