THEY were enjoyed by our Victorian ancestors and very soon we too will be able to enjoy oysters from Porlock Bay.

Porlock Bay Oysters, the community project formed to bring oysters back to Porlock after over 100 years, is now ready to start selling.

The group is celebrating a successful trial and will be having a launch party on May 2.

After three years of a successful trial growing oysters on the beach near Porlock Weir in Somerset, Porlock Bay Oysters achieved a category A classification from the Food Standards Agency.

This is the highest category available and is one of only three such sites in the whole of England and Wales.

In addition, Porlock Bay is the first community based sustainable shellfish group in the UK.

The initial product trial received grants from Fishmonger's Hall, Exmoor National Park, Porlock Parish Council and others.

Once it had proven successful, Power to Change awarded a grant to help launch the business along with community funding from the people of Porlock whose generosity has been overwhelming.

Together these grants and loans, coupled with the huge interest from local restaurants and others, mean that Porlock Bay Oysters is set to be a successful community business bringing back a traditional industry to where it started.

This will include creating full and part-time jobs for local workers as well as an apprenticeship scheme.

For more information, please contact Roger Hall at porlockbayoysters@gmail.com

www.porlockbayoysters.co.uk