Dewsbury Town Hall will be the setting for the one-day conference organised by Civic Agenda in association with Kirklees Council.

The event on December 2 will look at lessons from European markets, the importance of regional food economy and new initiatives from local markets.

It will be chaired by food journalist Matthew Fort and feature speakers from Slow Food West Yorkshire, the National Planning Retail Forum and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Delegates will also be invited to join the Mayor of Kirklees Coun Julie Stewart-Turner for a civic reception and buffet at Gomersal Park Hotel.

Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan said: "Dewsbury is the jewel in the Kirklees markets crown being a past holder of national Market of the Year and it is fitting that the conference is coming to the town."

Dewsbury, Mirfield and Heckmondwike MP Shahid Malik, who will open the conference, said: "It's an honour to have the National Food Markets Conference here in Dewsbury, home of Britain's best market. It will be a great pleasure for me to welcome the contributors personally.

"The conference will be an excellent opportunity for us to learn from their experience and to raise the profile of our market still further."

For more details visit www.nationalfoodmarketsconference.co.uk.