Hundreds of people visited a new fruit and vegetable stall which has opened at a Folkestone train station.

SJ Fruits, run by Stephen and Thereza Moore, set up for the first time on Saturday in the car park at Folkestone West.

They will be there every Saturday, from 8am-1pm, offering local and exotic fruits and vegetables.

They hope, if the venture proves successful, other traders will join them in time.

Mr Moore said: "Saturday was brilliant. We had around 500 customers, which is the same number we get at our Thursday market, which we have been running for eight years.

"The feedback has been great. Hopefully it will be even busier next week."

SJ Fruits already trades at Paddock Wood on a Thursday and in Tenterden on Fridays.

In Tenterden, they are joined by bread and cheese stalls, and other vendors such as fishmongers, and hope to attract a similar offering at Folkestone.

It is the second time SJ Fruits has set up in the district.

Last year, during lockdown, dad of three Mr Moore started trading from the Golden Valley car park in Sandgate.

Week after week he says he sold out of produce, with customers queuing 30 deep from as early as 8am.

At the time, Mr Moore, from Maxton, near Dover, says he got permission over the phone to trade in the council-owned car park.

But the stall was later shut down by the council, which said the stall was set up without permission.

He is now happy to be trading again in Folkestone.

He said: "I'm the third generation of my family to supply fruit and vegetable in Folkestone.

"It was such a success when we were in Sandgate. And we are now back in Folkestone.

"We really do cater for everyone. We buy it and then sell it. We're straight up about where we source our stuff from.

"We don't pretend to grow it.

"We're honest about our products.

"I sell about eight tonnes of fruit and veg a day, which is more than Aldi or Lidl do. Our customers know our stuff is good quality."

Customers were pleased to see the stall return.

One said on Facebook: "So glad you are back we missed you."
Another said: "Was up and got a bag lot of fruit for the kids great value."

Visit SJ Fruits Folkestone on Facebook for more information.

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