The Diss Business Forum-organised event gave local businesses the chance to find out more about each other.

Companies big and small, from HSBC and Barclays, to Penny Lindop Designs and Lenman Secretarial, packed into Diss Golf Club to display their services.

Many companies saw the event as an opportunity to showcase themselves as well as see what other firms have to offer during the current tough economic climate.

Diss Business Forum spokesman Jenna Cox said the event proved Diss had a thriving business community.

She added: "A comment I heard repeatedly on the day was from people saying they had heard of another company before, but it wasn't until they met them that they knew they could be working together.

"It shows the benefits of businesses meeting face to face."

It was also an event for big ideas, like Nick Clark's from South Lopham, who was advertising his grand engineering project to build a canal from Carlisle to Newcastle.

He said the canal would allow shipping through the north of the country, preventing the use of ports in the south east which clog up the region with goods traffic.

He said: "Diss On View is a hugely important way of getting into the local business community. "In the credit crunch, these sorts of forums are likely to keep businesses going."

While it was an event for larger companies, many still kept a local focus, with Barclays local business manager Trudy Hawes, who is based in Diss, introducing herself to the local community.

Companies from outside the immediate area, such as Lenman Secretarial, an administrative services company based near Norwich, used the event to get to know the local market and expand their business.

Partner Wendy Norman said: "These sorts of events are useful because you meet other businesses and learn new ideas."

Planning is already under way for the third Diss On View event next year.

Click here to see a video of the fair.

The winner of the new business prize at the fair was Claire McAuley, who is setting up a beauty therapy business in Norwich called Claire McAuley Beauty.

The prize includes a £2,000 marketing, public relations, design and web Kick Start package from Articulate HLC, as well as a business profile in the Diss Express, with photographs, a feature and quarter-page advert worth at least £900.

Watch a video of some of the exhibitors by clicking 'play'