WEST Stirlingshire locals are in for a treat when a new click and collect farmers’ market opens later this month in Balfron.

Drymen based social enterprise The Hub G63 will launch NeighbourFood Balfron on September 23 at Balfron High School, giving villagers across the area access to tasty, local produce.

The new online marketplace will go live the following day, allowing customers to order from local food makers and farms for collection on Thursday, October 3 between 5-7pm (and every Thursday thereafter).

Pick up points are also planned for Drymen and Aberfoyle.

Richard Boddington, from The Hub G63, said: “We set up The Hub earlier this year to promote local food and support sustainable living.

“The new market supports this goal by giving communities the chance to buy local food online, support the rural economy and reduce their carbon footprint.

“Locals will also get the chance to connect with the people who make their food at our weekly collections, boosting the relationship between farm and fork.”

Sister market Stirling NeighbourFood, run by Forth Environment Link, has been instrumental in getting Balfron’s market off the ground.

The environmental charity was awarded £208,000 in March to set up eight new weekly markets across Forth Valley and Loch Lomond, Perth and Kinross, the Scottish Borders and Fife by 2020.

Regional food project coordinator, Stuart Guzinski, from Forth Environment Link said: “The Regional Food project aims to increase rural access to Scotland’s larder by creating rural employment, offering small scale producers a safe route to market and connecting shoppers with the people who make or grow food locally.

“NeighbourFood is a sustainable way to food shop that supports local producers and cuts down food miles and food waste.

“Pre-ordering also means nothing’s wasted. Customers can plan their meals around what seasonal produce is available and producers only harvest or prepare as much as they need.”