It may be a small village but produce will be plentiful in Great Hockham this weekend as it opens its doors to its very first food festival.

While villagers are experienced at holding regular farmers’ markets, this year they have stepped into the unknown and on Saturday will hold a bigger event featuring extensive local produce and goods.

Visitors can expect a plethora of foods to nibble through, including fruit and vegetables, chutneys and sauces, fudge and cakes, and more, as well as a barbecue using meat from local farmers.

One of the organisers, Eileen Brownlow, said the event, which will be held on Saturday was a natural progression.

“It started small and it’s grown and grown and we’ve managed to get lots of people to come and give us a go,” she said. “We thought this year we’d make it into a proper food festival. A lot of people who will be selling are extremely local plus we’re a long way from the shops, about eight miles, so it’s really important to us.

“I’m amazed by the people who come in and say they like to buy local and it’s so important because we’re a farming community.”

Local producers at the festival will include Ashill Fruit farm apple juice, DJ Barnard butchers, Scrubby Oaks Fine Foods, Fudgalous Fine fudge, Metfield Bakery bread Comfort Cup Cakes, Bhajiman spices, Juliet’s patisserie, Philli Chillies chutneys and sauces, Yare Valley Rapeseed oil, Orchid Apiary honey and more. There will be plenty of goods available for tasting.

Mrs Brownlow added: “A lot of the stall holders are from the surrounding villages and it’s about getting them together and farmers’ markets are brilliant for that and for getting people talking.

“I think there’s a willingness to try new things and people ask lots of questions. They will go round stalls and ask where things have come from and where are they produced. I think it’s wonderful. We should be aware of what we’re putting into ourselves.”

The event will begin at 9am and finish around midday.