Hundreds gather for big Welshpool switch-on

Hundreds of people got into the Christmas spirit this weekend in Welshpool at the town's lights switch-on and Winter Festival. The festival, on Saturday, saw the town's Broad Street and High Street closed to traffic for stalls, entertainers and Father Christmas.

Events included a craft fair in the town hall, charity and community stalls, a market village and Christmas Street Market.

Robert Robinson, town clerk, said: "The Christmas market saw a number of regular and visiting stalls, offering books, toys, plants, ethnic jewellery, Peruvian Pan pipe music, CDs, cakes and bread from Mr Bun The Baker, Hog Roast from Rikki Lloyds plus many more.

"Entertainment was held in and around the town hall, Broad Street welcomed a variety of artistes, including Bernard the Barmouth Busker, balloon modelling, face painting, barrel organ and 'Chucklefoot', the one-man band."

The previous evening, hundreds of people braved the biting cold for the town's Christmas lights switch-on, which saw Father Christmas meet dozens of children from the town.

Then on Sunday, families and councillors gathered for a Carols around the Christmas Tree event.

Civic leaders and the local clergy joined forces for the event, which also finished with a visit from Father Christmas and mince pies and coffee.