A TAUNTON businesswoman is launching a new independent market in Somerset.

The monthly Saturday event being held at Haynes Motor Museum, in Sparkford, from March is the brainchild of Michelle Beck, who started Taunton Independent Market in 2019 and a similar one in Bridgwater earlier this year.

Michelle, who owns the Somerset-based events company By Invitation Events, said: "As a proud Somerset girl, I am hugely excited to be bringing a regular destination market to the iconic Haynes Motor Museum in spring 2023 and I already have tremendous support from many of the local traders and organisations I work with.

"The market at Haynes will be a new, quality destination market, the first in the area, and will showcase the South West’s best food and drink, crafts, gifts, homewares, beauty and fashion.

"The market at Haynes will trade from 10am until 3pm, on one Saturday a month."

Sarah Berry, events manager at Haynes Motor Museum, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Michelle on this exciting project, which will not only bring more people to the area but will also give local independent businesses a regular opportunity to sell their products in South Somerset.

"We already hold a regular car boot sale at the museum, which is very popular, and the new monthly market will further add to our community offer.”

Michelle added: "With many small businesses continuing to face difficult times, my aim is to make the new market at Haynes a place that people will go to, to support local businesses and to help to put Somerset firmly on the map as a quality South West shopping and social destination."