DINOSAURS, cookery demonstrations and rent discounts will help Bradford back a national campaign to highlight the importance of markets.

Love Your Local Market is an annual celebration of the UK market industry and this year runs until Wednesday, May 27.

It aims to attract new market traders and highlight the role markets play at the heart of local communities.

"It is the third time that we have taken part in the Love Your Local Markets Campaign and we hope these events show that there really is something for everyone at the markets across our district," said Diana Greenwood, Bradford Council’s market promotions and marketing officer.

"We also want to encourage a new generation of market traders, which is why we are offering those considering starting a new business the tools to get that business off to a good start."

Yesterday, The Good Food Advice stall in Bradford’s Oastler Shopping Centre worked with Jamie’s Ministry of Food to support Jamie Oliver’s - Food Revolution Day.

There were live cookery demonstrations and visits from school children between 11am and 2pm.

Jamie’s Ministry of Food will also be carrying out live cookery demonstrations for shoppers at Keighley Market on Thursday, May 21, between 11am and 2.30pm.

As part of the fortnight of celebrations, a new Local Produce Market starts in Bingley today. It complements the existing market and will run on the third Saturday of every month between 10am and 3pm.

Visitors to Bradford’s Oastler Shopping Centre and Keighley Market will meet creatures from the Jurassic period at a fun dinosaur show today.

The show invites people to watch a baby dinosaur hatching, learn amazing facts from dinosaur experts and make friends with the large, mostly friendly, dinosaurs.

The dinosaurs will be at Keighley Market and the Oastler Shopping Centre from 11am until 3pm.

During the fortnight, the local authority will encourage more people to take stalls by offering a number of incentives.

New traders will be able to get six months rent at half the rate, with no deposit required. Short term contracts are available as well as business rate relief on certain units.

The Council is also offering business support, advice packages and fast track applications to help new traders to get their business ideas off the ground.