Justine and Alex Paul are excited.

In just under a month they will be taking over the reins of Colchester Farmers Market.

And they have big plans to help give the monthly event at Colchester Arts Centre, in Church Street, a new lease of life.

The couple have run Suffolk Market Events since 2008 helping to revive farmers markets across the county.

And now they are expanding into Essex, aiming to bring good quality food produced within a 30 mile radius of Colchester.

The market has been run by charity En-form on the first Friday of each month for a number of years.

But it will be changing hands in what the award-winning husband and wife duo describe as a “friendly takeover”.

Alex said: “We have a passion for supporting local producers, a passion for good local food. There is an abundance of it in Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk.

“Colchester deserves a really good farmers market.”

Justine added: “It has been run by the same people for a long time and they have done a good job.

“But it takes a lot of motivation and imagination to keep markets going.”

When the market relaunches on April 5 it will run for an extra hour and a half to capitalise on the lunchtime rush.

The number of stalls will also increase to 20 and the curtains will be drawn back to literally let light into the church building.

Justine said: “It is going to be exciting and a really positive story.

“When summer arrives we are going to open up the back doors and go outside, open up the curtains and get light in.”

And the couple believe more people are drawn to farmers markets as the way people shop continues to change.

Justine added: “More and more people want to know the origins of their food.

“At markets they get to meet the person who has grown it or baked it. That is one of the key things about markets – it is face to face.

“All our producers come from within a 30 mile radius. We have so many amazing producers. We also make sure the pitch is low cost for the producers.

“You need really good producers to get customers in and you need customers to get good producers. They are two cogs and you need them to work together.”

Alex said: “There used to be a feeling that farmers markets were where you got a loaf of bread for £10 and a cupcake for £5.

“But it is a shopping experience. People are going in there with shopping bags. It is really good value for money.”

A number of traders are staying on for the new market but there will be plenty more for customers to try.

New stalls include Bee House Honey Company, the White Candle Company and crafts such as jewellery made from antiques silver spoons.

For those looking for a taste of something different there will be Bolivian pies from Colchester and gluten free cakes from Hopewell Bakery in Bures.

Colletts Farm Dairy, based in Wormingford, will also be bringing products to the market.

Justine said: “They are a micro dairy and they only make dairy from five Jersey cows.

“They are coming with raw milk, raw butter and cream.

“They are also bringing homemade pies using Longhorn beef. They are the only micro diary in Essex and we are really proud to have them.”

Talks started in the autumn and the couple will finally take it over next month.

Justine started working with markets after moving to Lavenham in 2008.

She said: “We had moved to Lavenham and went along to the market and when we left Alex said ‘Why don’t you do something with it’.

“I’m someone who has never stood still and have always been working.”

The business started in their living room at home before moving into an office when they relocated to Little Cornard. They are now responsible for six farmers markets.

The couple are excited for the future but Justine admits it comes with nerves too.

“It is like having a party and wondering if anyone is going to turn up,” she said.

Colchester Farmers Market relaunches on April 5. It will run every first Friday of the month from 9.30am to 2pm.

Visit www.suffolkmarketevents.co.uk/colchester-farmers-market.