TAUNTON Farmers' Market has celebrated 20 years in the town with a towering three-tier pork pie 'cake'.

The market was initially launched in 1999 as a monthly market, but the organisers quickly realised Taunton had the demand for a weekly event.

Although there has been lots of change during the past two decades, the farmer's market continues to thrive.

It has even won the Gold Award in Taste of the West Best Farmers’ Market category for the last five consecutive years.

The eye-catching anniversary cake was produced by the chairman of the farmer's market committee, Graeme Wallace.

Graeme has been part of the market ever since the initially steering group was set up, and is one of only two founding traders still there every Thursday.

He said: "I have been here since the very beginning. There are only two of us that have been here since the start, myself and Charlton Orchards.

"It all started because the NFU organised a meeting for interested parties. We all went down to the village hall at West Monkton and they asked people to show an interest and we put ourselves forward.

"We formed a steering committee and then approached Taunton Deane. They were not interested in helping, but said if we did it off our own backs then they would offer support where they could, which they have done.

"It was originally once a month but we quickly realised there was the potential in the town for a weekly market."

The products on offer are changed as traders adapt to the seasons, or to the various trends over the years.

Graeme added: "At one point we have 30 stallholders with a big range of stuff. It is not quite what it was, but lots of markets have disappeared altogether and we are proud to be going strong still.

"My range has adapted as I have gone along. At first I sold venison – I still do a bit of that – but now I do a lot of pork products.

"I have done pork pie birthday cakes before, and that is where the idea came from for this celebration.

"I made it yesterday and then after the cutting we are giving it away to customers."

Cake maker Ashiba Sawhney also made mini cupcakes which were handed out for free.

"We are really hoping for another 20 years," Graeme added.

"It has been really good for the town and we have enjoyed a lot of support from the local community and local shops like having us here.

"There are other towns around that you might think have a bigger farmers market, but they don’t and we really have a great offering here.

"We have been trying to fill it with good people with good integrity with good products. People who are actually producing the food."