LIFE in Sturminster Newton could be about to get a whole lot slower.

That’s the hope of Sturminster people involved in the market town’s bid to become officially recognised as a “cittaslow”, or slow town.

Organiser Jane Williams said an increasing number of towns in England had latched on to an Italian movement born from a love of good food and broadened into a celebration of a way of life.

“It was a reaction to the arrival of hamburger restaurants in Italy. The Italians revolted and said ‘We don’t want fast food, we want slow food’,” she said.

“Since then it’s become all-encompassing and has become a sort of kite mark for the quality of life in a town.”

Local traders, food producers, and the town council had become enthused by the idea, said Jane, and people throughout the town were now engaged in trying to win cittaslow status for the town.

Cllr Victor Fox, the chairman of Sturminster Newtown Town Council, said the aims of the movement matched the strengths of the town’s businesses.

“If we can get cittaslow status, we will be the first town in the south of England to do so. There will be an overall benefit. It’s all about staying local, whether that be growing, eating, or producing,” said Cllr Fox.

Local businesses are also backing the bid, hoping to add the accreditation to the town’s recent success in the Taste of Dorset competition.

Alistair Wingate-Saul, who owns Sturminster butchery Holebrooks with his wife Nikki, said the bid was an exciting thing to be involved in with “endless benefits” to the town.

“We had a presentation on cittaslow from the mayor of Ludlow, which is a lovely place, and if we can get that sort of ethos here it’s got to be good for Sturminster Newton and the surrounding area,” he said.