Home-grown surplus gets an outlet

Keelham Hall Farm Shop in Thornton, Bradford, has launched its own "swap shop" allowing local growers to exchange excess fruit and vegetables for vouchers to be spent in the Brighouse & Denholme Road outlet. Roger and Sonia Baert, of Bramley Lane, Hipperholme, were the first people to take advantage of the scheme as they delivered a large batch of redcurrants that sold out within hours.

Mr Baert, 78, said: "It's a really pleasant surprise to learn that my produce is selling so well. I really like the scheme, because I am not committed to making a delivery on a certain date or to an agreed schedule."

The retired mechanical engineer cultivates a back garden at his Calderdale home, growing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.

Keelham Hall Farm Shop's Victoria Robertshaw said: "All the produce we receive goes on sale to other customers in a special area of the shop and while no money actually changes hands as far as the vendors are concerned, we are offering them a ready outlet for their excess crops."