TOURISM chiefs have teamed up with a top social media influencer to showcase some of the best local produce on one Cumbrian high street.

Harrison Ward, better known as Fell Foodie, recently appeared on TV with national treasure Mary Berry and has now been meeting with market stallholders in Barrow to cook up some tasty dishes using the very best local produce.

A self-taught cook with a passion for Cumbria, Harrison is open about his struggles with mental health; and the part played by the great outdoors in helping him to overcome them.

He can often be found in the fells, cooking delicious dishes on a simple camp stove and documenting his adventures on his Instagram account @FellFoodie.

With his love for Cumbria and for food, Harrison was the perfect choice to sample Barrow’s culinary delights and get creative using ingredients from the town’s indoor market – one of the largest in the county.

As part of a wider project to promote Barrow and Cumbria’s high streets, Harrison was set a challenge: shop for ingredients in Barrow Market Hall and cook up a delicious dish at the amphitheatre outside the Dock Museum.

Ingredients for his dish came from some of Barrow Market Hall’s fantastic food stalls, where Harrison also spoke to stallholders about their produce; and received plenty of tips on using it to its full potential.

First stop was N&S Rhodes Butchers, where Nigel Rhodes provided a warm welcome and expert advice.

Then it was on to Pete’s Fruit and Veg for vegetables, before heading on to Tuk’s Thai Foods for spices and authentic Thai ingredients – accompanied by Tuk Tarnprasant’s friendly and enthusiastic guidance.

The abundance of options available was clear, with Harrison having no trouble finding all he needed. The result? A flavoursome massaman curry, cooked against the backdrop of Walney Island and the Irish Sea.

“I found the market so welcoming with a plethora of unique stallholders,” said Harrison.

“I’ve always found it important to support local businesses where possible and being able to listen to the vendor’s personal tales builds a connection with the products purchased.

“I came away with some delicious, fresh, foodie produce perfect for a little coastal cook-up to top off my day in the area.”

To find out more about shopping in Barrow, see: www.visitbarrow.com Or for more information on Cumbria’s other vibrant high streets, visit Cumbria Tourism’s visitor website: www.visitlakedistrict.com/highstreets