CRAFTSPEOPLE in Dawlish have set up shop at a weekly town centre market.

The event runs on Wednesdays and is making use of a community building in the heart of the town centre which isn’t usually used for retail purposes.

Dawlish Bowls Club’s green clubhouse is the new venue for the market which runs from 10am to 1.30pm.

Organiser and craft business owner Becci Conaboy hopes the market will be a ‘fantastic opportunity’ for local craftspeople to widen their customer base or even ‘take a leap’ by launching a brand new business from a hobby.

She said: ‘The retail centre of Dawlish is largely filled with family-run independent businesses and so it is lovely that this craft market will help to expand our unique retail offering here in Dawlish.’

All products are handmade and feature jewellery, art, homeware and gifts.

Becci explained: ‘We are a small family run business based in Dawlish, making laser engraved and 3d printed gifts and homeware.

'We have been regularly attending crafts fairs and events in and around the local area for a while now.

'Earlier this year, we started a craft fair at The Warren Bridge Inn, Dawlish Warren, which runs throughout the spring and summer and has been a huge success.

‘The landlords have been incredibly supportive of this event, and our crafters, unfortunately it is outside so we needed to find a venue over the winter months.

'Along with some of our regular crafters, we had the thought of the bowling greens clubhouse when they aren’t using it.

‘One of our crafters is a member, so she spoke to them and they were kind enough to allow us the use of their space during their off season so we will be there until April when we will return to the Warren Bridge.

'We pride ourselves on all of our crafters selling locally handmade items, we all live in and around Dawlish and we don’t have any stalls reselling purchased items.’

Among the crafts on sale will be watercolours and cards, semi-precious stone jewellery, handmakes quilts, bags and a variety of fabric items, a range of macrame items and memory bears to order.

Becci added: ‘We love Dawlish and both as a family, and a business are very proud to be a part of its community and its host of incredible local businesses.’