A SATURDAY country market and a new business selling handcrafted products attracted visits from Central Devon MP Mel Stride on July 6.

Mr Stride took the opportunity to sample some of the quality produce on offer at the Hatherleigh Ruby Country Market, listen to live music and speak to local businesses and organisations.

He said: 'It was great to see so many people attending the Ruby Country Market, and the organisers have done an excellent job in promoting local businesses and their produce.

'Local markets are essential for our rural economies and also play their part in maintaining a real sense of community in our smaller towns.'

While in the town, Mr Stride paid a visit to Crafty Cultures, a new business in Hatherleigh, selling a range of hand-crafted wooden and ceramic products.

Simon Weekes, who runs the business, met Mr Stride at a 'Meet your MP' event in June and invited him to visit when he was next in town. The pair discussed potential funding streams for new businesses.

Mr Stride said: 'Crafty Cultures is a unique and welcome addition to Hatherleigh and I really want to see it succeed.

'One of the key issues we discussed was the willingness of banks to lend to new businesses that don't have a track record of profitability because they are so new. Often they can't get help until they've been successful for a number of months and they can't be successful without the initial help.'

Mr Weekes said: 'It was very useful to meet with Mel and discuss the avenues of funding open to new businesses, who are not finding things easy. One option I am exploring is private equity investment.'