But among the fruit and veg stands, the plant stalls and bric-a-brac, visitors can now turn to the power of prayer.

The Healing Rooms has taken a regular pitch at the market at the mart, offering prayer for healing.

In its first week alone, half a dozen people made use of the service.

Healing Rooms director Vic Cameron said: "We had six people the first week and no one during the second, but we spoke to lots of people.

"We offer prayer at the market but we do recognise that it could be quite embarrassing or daunting, and so we offer private prayer on a Monday evening in one of our churches.

"People are not going into churches so often these days we wanted to go to a market where people are and offer prayer for them.

"A lot of churches in Moray are offering prayer for healing and what we want to do is to take that out to the community."

The service was launched earlier this month and has seen people with a variety of pains and medical ailments seeking help.

While unable to talk about specific cases, Mr Cameron, pastor of Elgin Community Church, said that one individual had pain completely removed shortly afterwards.

He added: "We have seen quite a few things within our own church and a lot have felt an improvement in their condition, through prayer."

The team comprises of around a dozen volunteers from a number of churches, including representatives of the Church of Scotland, Baptist and Pentecostal churches. They come from Elgin, Lossiemouth, Banff and Buckie, Forres and Findhorn. They have undergone training and have gelled together well in the build up to launching the special service.

Anyone can seek out help; you do not need to be a practising Christian, and you will be made very welcome at the Healing Room stand, which will be at the mart from 10am to 12 noon every Saturday. A more private prayer session is available on a Monday evening at Pinetree House in Elgin.

Mr Cameron added: "People might not actually come forward for prayer now but if they see us week in and week out and we start building relationships with people, they will feel more confident to come. It is about building relationships with people as well."

e.green@northern-scot.co.uk

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