Tastes of Europe can be sampled at the hugely popular Continental Market, which returns to Peterborough this week.

Traders from France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Holland, Poland and Greece will be setting up their stalls in Long Causeway, Bridge Street and Cathedral Square.

The regular Farmers' Market will provide a home-grown alternative tomorrow too, when English farmers and producers will work alongside their European counterparts.

Opening times are from 9am to 6pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The Continental Market promises to be bigger and better, with some exciting new traders. However, shoppers will be delighted to hear that some of their old favourites, such as Dutch plant seller Dirk van de Wardt and Dutch cheese specialist Dick Koetze will be attending again.

Both are real characters on the market, with Dick's wife, Willy, not only selling cheese, but also a range of Dutch cakes, liquorice and mouth-watering waffles served warm with lashings of chocolate or strawberries and cream.

However, organisers are also very excited that they have persuaded a trader to travel all the way from Lapland.

Finnish trader Jari will be selling a wide range of products typical of the region he comes from, and at least the temperature in Peterborough will be a little warmer than back at home where it is currently about -20C.

In addition, the Continental Market will include Karl Heinz from Germany with his traditional round stall (Schwencklegrille) selling Bratwurst sausages. Claude Le Marec and her partner Luis will provide a very traditional Breton patisserie with some fabulous tarts baked fresh on the stall. The stall will also sell meringue, a real favourite in Brittany, and other traditional cakes and biscuits rich in dairy butter from this region of France. Then there is the wonderful Ginger Bread House – a great favourite with the children – with a huge array of sweets, fudge and, of course, Belgian chocolates, along with some fantastic designer cakes.

Some of the other feature food stalls will include Georges Koumarides with his delightful Greek deli, and Aarons will again be setting up his rare meats from around the world stall, selling alligator, ostrich, springbok and other exotic meats. People will also be able to try one of his freshly cooked burgers or steaks, or buy them uncooked to take home for the freezer.

Rounding off the eating experience will be Julian Jimenez, from Cordoba, in Spain, with his paella cooked to an old traditional family recipe. Watch out on Friday for his speciality seafood paella and a great taste of India from chef Jaz Bansil, who has a great range of Indian foods, including some fantastic samosas. In addition, Madame Brun and her husband Laurent will be making fresh toasted baguettes with a range of fillings that will make your mouth water.

Some of the new food traders include Mr Bean – well, Jimmy to his friends.

Everyone loves the aroma around his stall as he sells some of the best coffee beans you will ever see with some very unusual flavours indeed.

Add to this a great range of olives sold from a traditional Parisian style stall by Philippe Abitbol, or you can take a tour around the world with Pascal, who sells a wide range of olives, sea salts and olive oils from around the world.

It really is an experience visiting Pascal's stall with vinegars, chutneys, herbs, French dried sausage and hams, alongside a great range of German salamis and sausages. He also has freshly baked macaroons from Belgium; Italian crêpes and pizzas; French crêpes laced with Grand Marnier; patés and hams from the Savoire region of France; and a wonderful dish called tartiflette – a traditional meal for workers in the mountains of France.

On the non-food front there are leather goods with handbags from Paris, sheepskin and leather products from Poland, designer jewellery; Italian silk scarves and ties, and a great selection of unusual Bonsai trees with expert advice from Simon. In addition, there are other stalls with goods from all over Europe.