They were out in force on the first Wednesday of the month to add a continental feel to the heart of Milngavie.

Brisk trade from the public was reported by organiser Matthew Stevenson from the co-operative group Renfrewshire Farmers' Market (RFM) who previously ran the market prior to the council's new licensing requirements.

Mr Stevenson, from Linburn Farm in Erskine, said: "It was nice to have all our regular customers back after it not running last month.

"People commented on it being a much-loved market and the weather helped create a nice atmosphere."
Support

The stallholder, who sells meat from his Aberdeen Angus Direct stall, added: "It was amazing how many people from Milngavie and Bearsden came along to the market to express their support for us and they were genuinely concerned after it didn't operate last month."

Traders boycotted last month's farmers' market because they were furious that an ex-member of RFM, Mr John Dobbie, had acquired the new licence from the East Dunbartonshire Council that all markets must now have.

Stallholders said they could not work with Mr Dobbie because of 'bad blood'.

Mr Stevenson said: "When we realised what had happened we boycotted the market to show our strength of feeling."

The stallholder then applied for another licence on behalf of RFM and was granted an interim licence to allow the market to operate last week until a full licence can be issued which takes about three weeks.

A confident Mr Stevenson continued: "I'm very upbeat after all the doom and gloom of last month and reckon the full licence should be granted this week."