There had been signs posted all over Hove and fliers put through letter boxes advertising the opening of a Farmers' Market.

This, I thought, could be an excellent opportunity for local growers to establish an outlet for specialist produce.

So it was with pleasurable anticipation I trundled across Hove Station bridge to join the throng paying their first visit to the Farmers' Market.

Now, I may be wrong but I was unaware of any locally-grown olives in the surrounding countryside - or has global warming encroached into Sussex much more than I had realised?

The first stall I looked at was selling what looked liked delicious olives - but local produce? And how many farmers in Sussex are into aromatherapy?

To be fair, there was a stand selling free range eggs and another selling locally grown organic vegetables.

Nevertheless, the term Farmers' Market is totally misleading to descibe this collection of stalls. This leads me to wonder what phrase could be used to give a more accurate description of what it actually is?

Does anyone have any ideas?

-Bill MacFarlane, Hove