A COMMUNITY market that started life as a small coffee morning with stalls is celebrating its third year running.

The Halwill Community Market first came about in 2008, when a group of volunteers decided to set up what they thought would be a small monthly coffee morning with stalls.

The market is now a monthly event held in Halwill Parish Hall, with a range of stalls including meat, vegetables, cheese, plants, crafts and charity stalls. The market has also supported local groups and charities.

Local people can come along for a chat and a cup of tea, and entry costs just 50p, which includes refreshments.

There are usually at least 15 stalls to browse, although before Christmas, market committee member Sandra Willetts said they had to turn stallholders away: 'We had a wonderful market before Christmas, and you honestly could have done all your Christmas shopping just at the market. It was wonderful.'

The market has donated funds to a number of local organisations and charities, including the Parent and Toddler Group, Scallywags Pre-school, Halwill Brownies, Cubs and Beavers, Winsford Trust, Halwill Primary School Gardening Club, Halwill Baptist Youth Club and Beaworthy Church. It has also made donations to the Air Ambulance Trust and Help for Heroes.

Sandra Willetts said: 'We raise the money through the entry fee and the sale of raffle tickets. The only expenses we take out are for the refreshments and cost of hiring the hall. We tend to choose the causes ourselves, rather than ask organisations to nominate themselves.

'We try to keep most of the money within Halwill or at least related to Halwill. We donated funds to Help for Heroes because we know of a number of people in the area whose family or friends are in Afghanistan, and the air ambulance was given money because as a rural community, this is a vital service for us.

'So far, we've donated in excess of £2,500 to good causes.'

The market is held on the second Saturday of every month between 10am and noon at Halwill Parish Hall, with the next being on Saturday February 12.

The market always welcomes new sellers, and for more information contact Sandra on 01409 255668.