Sunderland's Sunniside Food Market gets its Spook on...

Sunderland's popular Sunniside Food Market is preparing for one of its biggest events of the year - with some ghostly goings-on to mark the scariest date on the calendar.

The monthly market will return on Saturday 26 October, with dozens of food stalls, craft sessions and events with a particular Halloween flavour.

The event - which runs from 10am to 3pm - will give visitors the opportunity to sample food from across the globe, with everything from Italian to Greek favourites on offer, as well as gourmet burgers, bangers and a whole host of sweet treats.

Along with being able to enjoy the food on the day, the market will also feature a range of products to take home, including spices, farm foods, condiments and homemade chocolates.

Drinks providers cover everything from proper roast coffee - courtesy of Cracked Bean Roastery, FC Roast and the Northern Bistro - to slightly stronger tipples from Rebel Heart Bars and Wear Beer.

The event is organised by Sunderland BID in collaboration with Food and Drink North East, which champions local producers across the region and regularly showcases them in Sunderland.

Along with local artisan producers, those taking part at the Sunniside Market come from across the region, such as Newcastle's Pink Lane Bakery, Weardale Cheese and Gateshead's The Travelling Bee company.

As well as more than 20 food and drink stalls, visitors can also see a whole range of craft and art makers, offering everything from pictures to flowers.

A full programme of activities will also be on offer throughout the day, from Let Your Soul Grow - an introduction to community gardens, information about composting and even the opportunity to meet worms in a wormery.

Free Halloween face painting will be on offer, while local illustrator, Hannah Graham, will be creating free mini portraits of visitors or their pets.

Youngsters can also get some pumpkin decorating tips from creator Sue Divine from the Art Café, where they can also sign up for her fun pumpkin decorating sessions at the Moving Gallery - just in time for Halloween.

The talented students from Sunderland College will also be staging their own spooktastic performance during the day, at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm.

And in between DJ Jim Dingwall will also be on hand, playing favourite music throughout the day.

Sharon Appleby, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, believes this will be one of the best markets of the year.

"We have an incredibly strong line-up for this October's market," she said.

"And with Halloween just around the corner there's an added flavour to the event to reflect this popular time of year.

"We have such a diverse range of traders taking part that we are sure this will be an event that nobody will want to miss."

The food markets are funded from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) following a successful application made by Sunderland BID, which led to an award of £202,253 which is being used to support a range of activities in the Sunniside area.

It is part of the bigger Sunniside Activation programme designed to build pride in place and a sense of community.

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/LocalHeroesNE