March town centre was filled with festive spirit on Sunday for the second annual Christmas market.

Craft stalls filled the Market Place and along part of High Street and Broad Street.

Father Christmas in his grotto proved a huge draw for youngsters keen to put in those present requests and a have a chat with the important man himself.

Fair rides and bouncy castles also provided entertainment for children while the adults had a chance to pick up stocking fillers and presents from the many fancy goods stalls.

Councillor Jan French, chairman of the Christmas Market Committee, said the event had been a great success with the cold weather failing to put people off attending.

“It was a really good day, it was cold but that didn’t seem to stop people coming along. There were a few people who moaned because we moved the children’s fair rides to outside the library, which we did because people complained last year that they were taking up too much room on Broad Street. But we will listen to what people have to say and they will be back in Broad Street next year.

“Apart from that everything went smoothly, we had one or two stalls fail to turn up because people were ill. I think the market will only get bigger and better, bearing in mind it has taken us 10 years to get where we are with the St George’s Day fair which is such a fantastic event now,” said Mrs French.