EASTER Sunday visitors enjoyed a specialist plant fair and food market despite the rain.

Many of the North's top specialist nurseries, growers and plants people and quality artisan food and drink producers were exhibiting at Holker Hall and Gardens today.

The event welcomed more than 1,000 visitors who were able to buy everything from herbaceous to shrubs, and autumn blooms to spring flowering bulbs. The public were also keen to buy fresh, local and regional food and drink.

Jillian Rouse, head of visitor services at Holker said: "We have had an excellent day. Despite the weather we have had over 1,000 visitors. We had more than 35 exhibitors with some very good displays of quality plants and produce."

Cumbrian Sweet Trolley, of Ulverston, were among the exhibitors. The company was selling artisan breads, tarts, and sweet treats such as sticky toffee pudding, banana bread, lemon drizzle cake and homemade scones. The business is run by mother and son Mollie Dixon and Stephen Dixon, who also runs Dusty Miller's tea shop at Gleaston Water Mill.

Richard Dixon, brother of Stephen and son of Mollie, who was helping with the stall, said: "It's been a very good day at Holker despite the weather. The homemade scones have been very popular with the visitors."

Holker Hall and Gardens will host its next specialist plant fair and food market on Sunday August 27.