THE Highworth Craft Fair returned this weekend, with 12 small businesses setting up tables to show off their wares and greet customers.

Local traders regularly gather in the Highworth Town Council's Community Room, and from February next year, the Fair will be held there on the first Saturday of every month.

Gemma Dennis of Adore Haberdashery set up the Craft Fair to shine a spotlight on small businesses in the area.

She said: "The ethos of the fair is for small businesses to support other small businesses in the community so they can grow.

"We don't actually make a profit from this, we're here to get the word out and help businesses make themselves known.

"Stalls like Ligneum Arte, Adore Haberdashery, Ginger Monkey and Hello Treacle are here regularly but we also bring in other traders to try to keep things different, fresh and interesting so people don't always know what to expect.

"We usually get around 150 to 200 visitors because a lot of people wander over to us from the Highworth Saturday Market.

"Since July, we've been over-subscribed for tables, which is great, and have a long waiting list for our Christmas event."

Lisa Stranks of Ligneum Arte was one of the first people to join the venture.

She said: "We're all here for the same reason.

"Rent costs for buildings in the town are so high, none of these traders have a permanent place to do business.

"Highworth is more than just food, drink and estate agents.

"If we didn't have each other, we wouldn't be able to make this work."

The Highworth Craft Fair will return once again on Saturday November 11 with members of the British Legion and a two-minute silence at 11am.

This will be followed by a special bumper Christmas event at the Highworth Community Centre on Saturday December 2, featuring 24 stalls, and a raffle for Highworth Pre-School, with the Mayor of Highworth Nick Gardiner attending and reading out the raffle numbers.

For more information, visit the Highworth Craft Fair facebook page.