Shoppers at Bradford's Oastler centre were today treated to a taste of many parts of the world

Stalls were selling everything from Mediterranean produce, specialist coffees and French crepes to Indian hand-crafted gifts and jewellery. Shoppers were keen to try the unusual products.

One customer bought a jar of honey and nut dessert from the Greek island of Lesbos and said it reminded her of a holiday she had taken there many years ago.

Alex Pogson, proprietor of Alex Pogson Fine Foods, said customers were more aware of speciality products such as flavoured olive oils, wildflower honeys and dried peppers.

His stall was a mixed display of glass bottles full of oil and jars of spiced chickpeas, deep green pesto and fresh soups.

Customers could sample some of the more unusual products, including green chilli pepper.

Mr Pogson said that the popularity of TV cookery shows and celebrity chefs was part of the reason people were becoming more aware of unusual and high quality foods.

Across on the other side of the market, Que Sera coffee stall was preparing for lunch time by making panini sandwiches.

Jacqueline Stokes, running the stall, said Bradford was gradually becoming more cosmopolitan in its outlook and that more people were asking for speciality coffees. Ms Stokes said that knowledge of the products was key.

"Once you educate people they are willing to try new things and understand the difference. It's more so in Leeds than Bradford at present but it's changing and going more that way here too," she said.

Next door, the Crepes Express team had come to the market as they know Bradford well. They have taken their stall to the Mela festival for the past few years.

Proprietor Victor Vaccaro thinks the continental markets will get bigger and attract more people each year.

"Food is of interest to everybody so if something attracts, people will attend."

Customer Mrs Barford, had come into Bradford from Shipley and had come across the market by chance. She enjoyed a lemon crepe and said the stalls were "fantastic".

The Market Superintendent for Bradford, Nirmal Bassi, said that the event, which runs until Saturday, was aimed at keeping the public's interest in what Bradford has to offer.

"This is leading up to having an international market festival next year. We want to keep the interest of the people of Bradford, to show people that there is always something going on."

The cosmopolitan element was not just in the food on offer. Krishna Jani's stall was covered in embroidered Indian fabrics in wonderful colours, hanging bells and shimmering rings and bangles.

Everything was handmade by village women in Gujarat, North West India.

"People are very attracted to new things, unusual things, so they sell well."