With free scollops, gourmet hotdogs and live music, the new farmers' market in Tunbridge Wells could not have been better.

The launch in Market Sqaure on Saturday had 24 stalls from Kent and Sussex and plenty of hungry locals.

One of the organisers, Morag Hockin, said: "It was a real success - there was a fantastic atmosphere. Some of the stall holders sold out by midday.

"Shop owners in nearby Camden Street even came out and told us how pleased they were with the outcome."

Run by the council for 19 years, the market had its last day in Civic Way in January, ahead of redevelopment of the public library and museum.

But three stall holders were determined not to let it go.

Mrs Hockin of Rapkyns Nursery is one of them. She said: "When we received the email from the council to say it was closing, we just could not let it.

"I ran a petition during the last three markets at Civic Way and got hundreds of signatures and some lovely comments."

Paul Saxby of Arcade Fisheries and Jo Jeffery of Kitchen and Ready joined Mrs Hockin in her quest to keep the market going.

Mrs Hockin added: "It is much better to have stall holders running it because we know much more about the market. I was part of the old market for 15 years - the council are one step removed."

A wide range of foods were on offer, from meat and eggs to the more obscure Russian chicken liver cake, made by Jenka of Samovar Foods.

The market will be held on the second and fourth Saturday of the month, the next being Saturday, March 23.