THE monthly 'artisan market' in Dorchester, which has been running for a year, has proved to be a boost for the county town.

The Sunday market, which started in the spring, has been more successful than the operators hoped for, attracting thousands of extra weekend visitors.

Several town centre shops which used to stay closed on Sundays realised they were missing out and started opening for at least half a day as a result of the market's success.

The markets are to continue this year with the first being held on April 27th, followed by May 25th, June 22nd, July 27th, August 24th, September 28th, October 26th and November 23rd.

Market organiser, Jules Bradburn, in a report to the town's joint markets panel, said: "Footfall was above target and the market seemed well attended by both locals and visitors. We spoke to numerous people who had come from Poole and Bournemouth just for the markets and one person who travels form Kent to stay with his mother on market dates. Traders were very pleased with the footfall and sales figures."

Changes to the market for this year will include not using the Bowling Alley Walks area as soeme complained about the difficulty of having to walk on the grass, interlaced with tree roots, to reach the stalls with the Borough Gardens area also being dropped as it proved to be less popular than other areas.

Mr Bradburn says the market will now concentrate on South Street and South Walks.