A MARKET stall holder has come to the rescue of a turkey supplier after the closure of a butchers looked to have left them stuffed.

G and J Barron Farms provided birds to Frank Wright butchers for 50 years but the farm was left stranded with 200 turkeys when the butcher suddenly went out of business last month.

The butchers had placed the order with the suppliers for the turkeys back in January in anticipation of the Christmas trade.

But following an article in the Gazette, they were approached by former Frank Wright customer Richard Hill who was interested in taking orders for the turkeys at Colchester Market.

Mr Hill, 37, said he hadn't been involved in any market stall holding before but things have been going well.

He said: "My work is predominantly office based so I thought this was a good opportunity to do something different and support a producer that had been treated badly.

"Frank Wright was my butcher and I would regularly shop there so it was a bit of a shock when it closed without any notice.

"Then I saw the article about G and J Barron in the Gazette and thought I'd see if I could help.

Mr Hill, of St Mary's, said he visited the suppliers at Pattocks Farm in Chappel and was pleased by what he saw.

He said: "Ross and Sarah gave me a tour of the farm so I could really appreciate what they are doing.

"The birds are grown slowly to the highest welfare standards and they aren’t fed any growth hormones or antibiotics

"They're great people and I’m very proud to be able to work with them.”

Turkey seekers will be able to find the stall on High Street in Colchester town centre every Friday and Saturday until December 16.

On Sunday December 3, the stall will also be open for orders during the Christmas Market.

Mr Hill added: "We’ve had a fantastic response and as we edge closer and closer to Christmas I'm sure we'll see even more orders come in."

A £20 deposit is taken at the stall and orders will be available for collection from the farm shop at Pattocks Farm on December 22, 23 and 24.