A FARMERS' market is to return to Bewdley this weekend as the town begins its recuperation from the side effects of foot and mouth disease.

Visitor numbers at its safari park could also be boosted by the reopening of the animal reserve to tourists' cars. Staff at West Midland Safari Park had been hiring coaches to take visitors though the four-mile reserve due to foot and mouth restrictions.

The farmers' markets, which have not operated across Worcestershire since the start of the crisis in March, will now operate under guidelines and precautions set by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Dog Lane car park will host the Bewdley event on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Stallholders will be offering fruit and vegetables, meat, organic produce, jams, eggs and plants.

Worcestershire Farmers Market Group chairman Ian Hannington said: "The market will give consumers the opportunity to buy traceable local foods direct from the producer and support local farm businesses.

"The recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease and the way in which it spread demonstrates the importance of selling food close to the source of production."

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said an investigation into fraudulent claims for compensation and illegal movement of livestock in the wake of the crisis, set up at Stourport six weeks ago, is continuing.