Spitalfields market chiefs have reported a boost in demand for salads as the public enjoy picnics and pub lunches during the jubilee celebrations and World Cup.

Lettuces and tomatoes have been the biggest selling fresh produce at the east London site.

The jubilee weekend saw a million people attend bank holiday Monday's pop concert, and another million–plus crowd descend on The Mall to see the Caribbean carnival parade and RAF fly–by, with many taking along fresh fruit and vegetables as outdoor snacks.

And as both England and Ireland made it out of extremely sticky World Cup groups, the demand for fresh produce was set to continue, according to Spitalfields Jim Hepple. Asked whether he expected the boom in salad sales to go on as the cup reached the knockout stages, he said: 'I should think so, we've got two teams in it, Ireland and England – on two days of the week.'

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