CHESHAM market has been crowned the greenest in Britain.

The town claimed top prize at the How Green Is Your Market? competition run by the National Market Traders Federation at an award ceremony in Barnsley, Yorkshire, last week.

Chesham also took the prize for the southern region after being recognised as Britain’s most environmentally-friendly market.

It was established a year and a half ago in a partnership between environmental group Transition Town Chesham and the town council with the aim of making locally-produced food, drink and crafts more readily available to the town's residents.

The majority of traders come from within a 10-mile radius of Chesham and have the environment in mind when farming or making their products, from organic cultivation to tree-planting and recycling.

Co-organiser, Deputy Mayor Colette Littley, said: “While the market is relatively new, there has been a clear demand for fresh, local, high quality produce and the market has more than doubled in size over the last year. As the market grows, we will ensure that we stay true to the sustainable principles on which it was founded.”

A free pitch is given to a Chesham-based charity or community organisation every market - a key factor that impressed the judging panel.

Chesham Local Produce Market takes place on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10am-2pm in the Market Square. For more information go to www.chesham.gov.uk or call 01494 774842.