THE future of Eastleigh's farmers' market could hang in the balance after the number of stalls dramatically dwindled.

Eastleigh was keen to jump on the rural retail bandwagon and provide an extra outlet for farmers hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

At one time the farmers' monthly market was attracting more than 30 stalls but that figure has plummeted to little more than a dozen, including only one farmer who is selling meat.

On Friday, however, Eastleigh shoppers turned out in force after heeding a warning from town centre manager Dennis Chandler that "It really is a case of use it or lose it."

Market organiser Graham Beer, of Southern Farmers' Market Association, said: "At one time we had more than 30 stalls. Now we are down to 13."

Mr Beer, who was selling produce from his Liphook trout farm, said: "The turn-out of shoppers has been good today and with this support we hope we can rebuild the number of stalls."

The next market has been scheduled for Friday, October 5 but he said they would be gauging the views of stallholders before making a final decision.

Yet the drift of stallholders away from the Friday market goes against the trend because farmers' markets are growing across the south.

"In fact we have a job to keep up with the demand," said Mr Beer.

There was a determined mood among stallholders at the latest Friday market.

Doing a roaring trade at his plant stall, Derek Price, of Orchard Lea nurseries at Bishop's Waltham, said: "I hope it will continue because I have always found it a good market. It is right on my doorstep and if there were only five stalls I would continue coming here."

Graham Page, who farms on the Hampshire/Sussex border, was doing a brisk trade selling beef, lamb and pork and was confident that the Eastleigh farmers' market would survive.

He said: "It is a good setting with good access and there are nice people here. We need these outlets."

Graham's cuts of meat have even won glowing praise for their quality from Anne Robinson, renowned for her grilling of contestants in TV's The Weakest Link. Graham and his fellow stallholders are now hoping that Eastleigh's farmers' market will become the strongest link in the rural retail chain.