DINOSAURS, cookery demonstrations and rent discounts were used to back a national campaign to highlight the importance of markets.

Love Your Local Market is an annual celebration of the UK market industry and this year ran until yesterday.

It aimed to attract new market traders and highlight the role markets play at the heart of local communities.

“It is the third time that we have taken part in the Love Your Local Market campaign and we hope these events showed that there really is something for everyone at our markets across our district,” said Diana Greenwood, Bradford Council’s market promotions and marketing officer.

“We also want to encourage a new generation of market traders, which is why we are offering those considering starting a new business the tools to get that business off to a good start.”

Jamie’s Ministry of Food carried out live cookery demonstrations for shoppers at Keighley Market last Thursday.

And visitors to the market on Saturday had the chance to meet creatures from the Jurassic period at a fun dinosaur show.

New traders will be able to get six months rent at half the rate, with no deposit required. Short term contracts are available as well as business rate relief on certain units. The council is also offering business support, advice packages and fast-track applications to help new traders to get their business ideas off the ground.