Last Saturday was lined up to see a packed Cheese & Grain in Frome host the popular Somerset Farmers' Market, as it has done on the second Saturday of every month for 20 years.

Somerset Farmers' Market would also normally have been at the heart of yesterday's Frome Independent. Both markets are of course on hold during lockdown, until it is deemed safe to once again hold the markets at their usual historic venues.

The great news however is that although nothing may be happening at the actual market venues themselves, many of your favourite local farmers and producers are still producing food which can still be purchased by you the public, but just in a different way.

The organiser of the Somerset Farmers' Market, Louise Hall explains how.

'The excellent news is that many of our members are still very much open for business,' says Louise. 'Unable to attend at the actual markets, many producers are now selling direct to their public, whether via online shops, click & collect from their premises or from farm shops. Many members have also now organised home delivery schemes.'

'We may not currently have our popular and Award Winning markets set up once a month in the middle of our towns, but instead we have a virtual farmers' market available to us every day of the month,' adds Louise. 'All you have to do is pick up the phone or search online. To find out about the many producers that are still very much around and waiting for your business, just click on here the markets website Now more than ever is the time for us to support our local farmers and food producers.'

For several years local solicitors Thatcher + Hallam have been the proud sponsors of the Somerset Farmers' Markets. As well as being one of the partners in the firm, solicitor Sarah Gratton was also once a stall holder herself at the markets.

'As a law practice we ourselves have stayed open since the beginning of lockdown and are therefore delighted to be able to support Somerset Farmers Markets in any way we can,' says Sarah. 'Like the farmers and food producers, we now just work in different ways, ensuring that both our clients and our staff remain safe. We are all incredibly lucky to have such a fantastic local market right here in the middle of our towns, and I would fully endorse the comments of Louise that now is the time more than ever, when the loyalty and commitment of all of us really needs to be exercised.

We are indeed very much all in this together, so I would urge everyone to click on the above link and find how not only can you help support and sustain great local businesses, but at the same time enjoy some of the best and tastiest food and drink available in the whole of the South West. Go for it!'

More details about Sarah and the rest of her team at Thatcher + Hallam can be found here the T+H website

Sarah can also be contacted direct at the firm on 01761 409304.