WORCESTER shoppers can pick up fresh farm produce from premises in the CrownGate Shopping Centre.

The new initiative will see farm produce from across the two counties sold in a safe environment, until it is safe to re-open markets.

"It's a temporary arrangement to help farmers who've lost the opportunity to sell their produce with the suspension of markets in the two counties," said Worcestershire Farmers Market Group co-ordinator, Janet Yates.

The produce shop is located the Chapel Walk premises previously occupied by furniture retailer Cargo, opposite Huntingdon Hall.

Pamela Craig, who plays Betty Tucker in Radio 4 soap The Archers, opened the farm shop yesterday.

Shoppers will be able to buy seasonal fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy products, eggs, plants, herbs, bread, cakes, honey, preserves, pickles, chutneys, wine, cider and ice cream.

The farm shop is a temporary replacement for the popular farmers markets, which had been running in the Royal Worcester Porcelain grounds before the outbreak of foot-and-mouth.

"We'd like to resume the markets as soon as we can but, until then, this gives shoppers the chance to buy fresh local produce," said Mrs Yates.

The shop will be run by a manager and volunteers who will be on hand to answer questions. There will also be a Ministry of Agriculture information point.

The farm shop will open Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 5.30pm, until further notice.