As well as picking up their fresh fruit and veg, shoppers were able to lay their hands on some free information about alcohol and its effects.

Lincolnshire NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) and representatives from drug charity Addaction were in town to raise awareness of new alcohol treatment services in the county, including a new website launched last Monday.

The site includes an application to test whether you are drinking too much, as well pages covering alcohol information, quizzes, what alcohol treatment is, and more.

It is part of a £1.5 million investment by the PCT this year.

But was Boston buying what they were selling?

After a few hours of 'trading', Scott Watkinson, alcohol commissioner for the PCT, said: "We have been rushed off our feet."

Visitors to the stall could pick up leaflets about the services available to them in Boston, including Addaction's own site in Wide Bargate.

There were also games to play, in which shoppers were challenged to pour themselves a single unit of alcohol, or put 10 bottles of different types of alcohol in order of how many units of alcohol they contain.

Mr Watkinson said he had been encouraged by the response.

"The good thing is that people have been asking questions about alcohol, so we have had a chance to lay some of the myths to rest," he added.

He was joined by Nicky Dewhirst-Vickers, alcohol co-ordinator for Addaction. She said: "Even if we get just one person to come to one of our resource sites, it has been worthwhile.

"Everyone seems to know someone who drinks, and are taking information for those people."

l For confidential information on local alcohol services in the county call the 24-hour referral line on 0808 131 113 or visit www.lincs2alcohol.co.uk