A HEREFORDSHIRE town is bringing food markets back to its streets as part of a £90,000 project.

Bromyard's chunk of cash from the Great Place to Visit fund has seen the town hit national headlines because there was an idea to rebrand the town with a backwards D.

But that has now been ditched in favour of a normal D.

Other elements of the project are going ahead though, including more artwork around the town, new signage for visitors and restarting street markets.

With markets still going ahead in Leominster and Hereford, the project team, which included Jayne Bradley Ghosh, wanted to restart those in Bromyard's Market Square.

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These will begin on the jubilee weekend and then continue on the first Sunday of every month – if things go to plan.

But Mrs Ghosh, who runs her own food business, said there has been some scepticism around whether the food markets would work.

As part of a presentation to Bromyard and Winslow Town Council about the Government-backed Great Places to Visit fund, she felt that the team was "onto a winner with the market".

She said the first event, called "Party in the Square" on Saturday, June 4, would run from 4pm until 10pm in the square, outside the run-down Hop Pole Hotel.

That hotel is due to be given a huge makeover by Wyldecrest Parks, owned by millionaire Alfie Best, but Herefordshire Council is yet to agree to plans.

There would be street food, music, bars, projections, activities for young people and temporary toilet facilities.

The next day, Sunday, June 5, would see the launch of the town's outdoor market.

Held between 10am and 2pm, she said traders including Legges, Little Pomona cider and Yum Sweet Treats had already expressed interest in being there.

While some people in the town thought a Saturday would be better as most cafes and shops are traditionally closed on Sundays, for reasons including parking availability, the team opted for a Sunday.

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While no marketing has been done yet, she said she was waiting for a decision on the controversial branding for Bromyard, mocked by Jeremy Vine on his BBC Radio 2 show, which was decided at the same meeting.

"The good thing about the reversed D is that it took pressure off the market," said Mrs Ghosh, whose company Foodscapes runs community projects, promotes producers, develops people's food skills, researches food heritage and develops sustainable menus.

"I was getting a lot of people telling me that the market would never work, but fantastically the consultation demonstrated that absolutely everyone wanted it to happen.

"There's still a little controversy over the day, a lot of the traders and a lot of the shopkeepers want it on a Saturday because they think that's the best day for trade.

"But for all sorts of pragmatic reasons, mainly parking, we think Sunday is still the best day to do because it frees up the square for the market and creates other opportunities to park in other places without getting a ticket."

She added: "It would be amazing if you all could give it your support because it won't work unless everybody is behind it and everyone is coming out.

"I'll be looking for volunteers to help run it on the Sunday, it will be run by volunteers. Come and shop there."

The fund aims to support the high street and tourist attractions in welcoming back shoppers and visitors to the town.