9 Castle Hill, Lincoln - 01522 545458 Alexandra Dock, Grimsby - 01472 323 345 fhc@nelincs.gov.uk

Market Rasen is a small market town on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds. The town lies on the main road between Lincoln and Grimsby, the A46 and is on National Cycle Route 1 (part of EuroVelo 12) of the National Cycle Network. In 2001 the town had a population of 3,200.

Originally "Rasen", as it is known locally, was called "East Rasen", "Rasen Parva" or "Little Rasen".

The town centre has a homogeneous 19th century red-brick appearance of mainly Georgian and Victorian architecture, centred on a market place with a medieval church, restored in the 19th century.

The River Rase flows through the town and is crossed by Jameson Bridge, Caistor Road Bridge and Crane Bridge.

Market Rasen's community fire and police station opened December 2005. It is one of the first purpose-built combined fire and police stations in the UK.

The town newspaper is the weekly Market Rasen Mail, which was founded in 1856. It is published by Johnston Press.

The town is known for Market Rasen Racecourse

The course is a right-handed oval with a circumference of around one-and-a-quarter miles. Although National Hunt racing is traditionally a winter sport, Market Rasen stages a year-round programme of racing.

Its most high-profile fixture is the Summer Plate meeting, normally staged on the third Saturday in July. This features the two-and-a-quarter miles Summer Hurdle and the eponymous Summer Plate, a two-and-three-quarter miles chase, both of which are among the most valuable National Hunt races staged in Britain during the summer months.

There did used to be Point to Point racing held here on a left handed track inside the main National Hunt course. The course is now disused.