A POPULAR monthly market in Overton has donated funds to two charities.

Overton Saturday market, held in St Mary’s Hall, has awarded £250 each to Test Valley Men’s Shed and the Overton Community Kitchen Garden.

The market, which began 17 years ago, has donated more than £2,500 since it was founded, to national and local clubs and charities.

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(Image: Overton Market) Beneficiaries of the yearly donations are decided by the market committee and stallholders.

Chris Truscott, from the Overton Community Kitchen Garden, said: “The donation will be a great help in setting up our poly-tunnel which will make a difference to the length of the growing season and provide a place to start seeds for an earlier than usual crop.”

Nick Bowden, chair of Test Valley Men’s Shed, said it is “incredibly grateful” for the donation, adding: “We will use it to fix the potholes on the driveway. The market has provided such a supportive environment for local small businesses, art and social groups and charities like us.”

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The market is a successful non-profit venture, run in collaboration with the hugely successful Sustainable Overton initiative. It features a variety of stalls with sustainability as a focus, such as local arts and crafts, cakes, textiles, organic healthcare, photography, jewellery and plant stalls.

Most months, a Repair Café is held across the road in the community centre, where villagers can take all sorts of items for repair and sharpening.

Jo South, chair of the market committee, said: “The market epitomises what Overton does best – bringing villagers together to support local causes, initiatives, local traders and associations, while meeting new and old friends.”

The next market is in St Mary’s Hall, Overton on Saturday, July 6.