Primary school children showed their enterprising spirit when they made and sold goods at market in Chippenham.

Pupils from 14 primary schools have been growing produce and preparing crafts since February for the first Chippenham Schools Farm and Craft event held in the Market Place on October 5.

Among the products on sale were fresh vegetables, pumpkin muffins, seed soap, cotton bags, home-made cakes, lemon curd, chutney and flower pots.

Judy Edwards, manager of Chippenham Partnership of Schools, said: “The products were amazing and the schools came away with over £500 of profits for reinvesting in future products.

“Despite the growing odds being against the schools this summer and some crops that failed spectacularly, the children and staff really have worked their socks off to have products ready for the market.

“They’ve shown the determination and resilience that all successful entrepreneurs need.”

Wiltshire Council’s market team worked alongside the schools to prepare for the event and plans are being made for a regular stall on the market for children to sell produce.

The idea for the scheme came from the Chippenham Children and Young People’s Parliament and has been put together alongside Chippen-ham Schools Partnership and co-ordinated by the social enterprise Eco-kids. Each school was given £20 to get their project off the ground.

Coun Dick Tonge, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for markets, said: “These young people have been working hard and are learning the tools for creating a business at an early age.

“Our markets are a great way to test out a business idea and this shows you’re never too young to make a good business idea a success.

“We hope the experience of selling their wares on a market will inspire some future entrepreneurs.”

The schools that took part were St Peter’s, Kington St Michael, St Nicholas Special School, Queen’s Crescent, Ivy Lane, Charter, Christian Malford, By Brook, Stanton St Quintin, Frogwell, King’s Lodge, Monkton Park, Langley Fitzurse and St Paul’s.