Organisers of a north-east farmers market have found a new home after months of searching.
The Macduff Market has been based at the harbour on the last Saturday of every month for the last 15 years.
But with a new chilling unit for fish boxes and work for the new £500,000 ice plant under way, sellers were left with little space to flog their wares.
Now they have secured a spot at the local primary school, with both indoor and outdoor space available to display the range of local produce and crafts on offer.
Secretary and general organiser Lynne Oliver said: “Things are now moving very positively.
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“We’ve spoken to the head master and the letting agent and it went really well so we’re going to hopefully use the gym hall and some outside space which is visible from the road and we’ve a meeting this week with stall holders to tell them the good news.
“Our market as a whole has felt unwelcome at the harbour for a while, as the chill cut back our space and then there were always boxes left lying which we would have to get help to tidy before we could set up.
“We understand it’s a working harbour so we began looking for somewhere at the end of last year – we didn’t think it was worth fighting to stay there.
“There were some boxes we needed ticked, like being somewhere with parking and a big space for our ever-expanding market.”
She said that local councillors Ross Cassie and Mark Findlater stepped in to help, and suggested the school might be the ideal spot.
Although licencing and planning approval is still pending, all those involved are confident the school will be a permanent home for the market.
Mr Cassie said: “It looks like, as of April, the market will be held in the Primary School so they won’t be homeless.
“Obviously things have to be finalised but everything is in place for it to happen with a smooth transition.”
Mr Findlater added: “Ross and I worked to find a solution to this as the market really does contribute to the well-being of the area and it’s great to have some success.”
