This year the Holsworthy Family Resource Centre decided to move their annual Craft Fair, held last Saturday, from the Youth Centre to the more spacious Memorial Hall, giving them the opportunity to increase the number of exhibitors and to add the word 'Food' to the title of the event.

Last Saturday morning, on entering the foyer, visitors were greeted by local food producers, selling vegetables, cheeses, preserves, chutneys, bread and Christmas puddings. In the hall itself were more than 20 stalls at which local crafts people displayed a wide variety of quality handmade goods. These included jewellery, knitwear, Raku pottery, willow-work, wooden chopping boards, and luxury garments created in nuno felt work on to silk chiffon.

There were printing stamps, stained glass dishes and beautiful brightly coloured artificial flowers made of fine net on wire, a skill imported from Thailand. The only non-local goods were hand knitted woven toys, mostly animals, and accessories from a Fairtrade women's cooperative in Kenya.

While their parents took the opportunity to buy some unusual locally produced gifts for Christmas, the children busied themselves creatively with materials from the scrap store. And at the café at the end of the hall delicious homemade cakes and lunches were served.

One of the organisers, Sally Fulcher, said they had moved to the Memorial Hall because they had outgrown the Youth Centre; indeed they could still do with more space to accommodate the number of people who wished to exhibit. Because they had been impressed by the success of the Midsummer Food Festival they had decided to place a greater emphasis on local food.

Proceeds from the fair go to help the work of the centre, which provides a comprehensive support service for voluntary groups and families in the community, and runs creative workshops for children and parents.