A REVIVAL of shellfish farming has begun in Porlock Bay.

Last week volunteers began putting oyster and mussel beds in place, where harvesting of oysters died out 80 years ago.

If the two-year trial is successful, it is intended that a business is set up.

Local legend has it that oyster farms elsewhere in the country were struggling when one night unknown persons arrived and stole all the oysters from Porlock.

Porlock Futures, a subcommittee of Porlock Parish Council, hopes to encourage economic growth in the area with the shellfish farming.

Alan Wright of Porlock Futures said: “Shellfish farming is a great idea on so many levels.

“I’m really confident we’ll set up a proper business in its own right because it has worked here before.

“The bonus is that any money made will be used for social enterprise and setting up other community projects.”

The group secured £17,000 in funding from the Exmoor National Park Authority, the parish council and the Shellfish Association in 2013.

The new oysters have come from Morecambe Bay in Lancashire.