Shropshire and Mid Wales towns celebrate the Christmas run-up

People dressed as Santa ran through Telford, while residents across the county cheered as Christmas lights were switched on and people enjoyed other entertainment and activities during the weekend.

Organisers of a charity Father Christmas fun run in Telford were today still counting funds raised for RNIB and Guide Dogs UK. The 2km and 5km runs set off from Telford Town Park yesterday, with Mayor Councillor Malcolm Smith and Mayoress Christine Smith firing the starting gun.

Janice Williams, of organisers the Friends of Telford Town Park said: "It was a fantastic atmosphere and a lot of fun and we had people of all ages running it from young children to grandparents.

"People walked their dogs, we had kids in pushchairs and it was a very festive event and really got everybody into the Christmas spirit and people had family supporters with them cheering them on.

"It looked great seeing all the Santas run off together, especially as they ran around the lake at the start so the 160 Santas were still pretty much all together then. By about 11.50am everybody was back and we drew the raffle.

"This is the eighth year and it is a really well established event now and very well received. People just really seem to enjoy it."

Meanwhile families enjoyed a Victorian style Christmas at Blists Hill Victorian Town near Ironbridge.

Origin

Visitors stepped back more than 100 years to experience a Victorian Christmas.

People learned about the origin of Christmas cards when in 1843, Sir Henry Cole asked a local printer to design 1,000 cards containing a picture, a verse and space for his signature – the innovation quickly took off.

Visitors also found out about other Victorian Christmas traditions such as decorating the tree and introducing turkey as a Christmas meal.

Other Christmas events in the region included Tenbury Mistletoe Festival. The festival is the town's big festive celebration, which recognises the wealth of arts and culture in the area as well as the importance of mistletoe to the town's economy. And it was an excuse for a spot of traditional Christmas kissing under sprigs of mistletoe, which were carried around the town on the end of a big stick as well as being handed out to crowds.

Highlights of the day also included a specially choreographed piece by Dancefest's DFA called The Mistletoe Maidens, performed outside the Pump Rooms, as well as the crowning of the Mistletoe Queen, Beckie Morris.

Elsewhere during the day some street theatre also brought some hilarity to the Christmas shopping with Vamos Theatre.

People sang carols, cheered as Christmas lights were switched on and enjoyed entertainment on the streets during a weekend of activities.

Organisers of Oswestry Christmas Procession claimed this year's event – the 48th – was their best ever after about 60 floats took part. Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the floats set off from Lower Broad Street then pass through the town, led by two fire engines and Porthywaen Silver Band. Jonathan Jones, major events chairman at Rotary Club of Oswestry Borderland which runs the procession, praised the support given.

He said: "It was an absolutely fantastic event – it has definitely been our best year since we took this on seven years ago. There was a real buzz about the town and an unbelievable amount of people there. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part. The companies who provide lorries for the floats also help make the event better – it makes it bigger and it is what people enjoy. It feels like the start of Christmas."

In Welshpool, thousands of people enjoyed the town's winter festival on Saturday. There were scores of market stalls at the Corn Exchange, assembly room upstairs and at the market.

Christmas ballads were sung on the streets by an entertainer, and there was also a stilt walker and an appearance by Father Christmas.

The previous night the town's Christmas lights were switched on by carnival queen Jade Jones. The lights on the Christmas tree at the Royal Oak came on first, while other flickered into life as a procession made its way around the town's streets.

Robert Robinson, clerk of Welshpool Town Council, said: "We had thousands of people out at both events."

In Market Drayton, people gathered beside the Shropshire Union Canal at Talbot Wharf to sing Christmas carols at night.

A Christmas fun day was also held in Chirk on Saturday with a Christmas fair before the town's Christmas lights were switched on during the evening.

In Clun, the town's illuminations were switched on last night after about 30 lanterns were carried in the ice queen lantern and fancy dress procession. The procession left St George's Church and went down the hill towards the square. Local children carried lanterns they had created in a workshop held at Clun School.

Prizes were handed out for fancy dress around the theme of "the ice queen's big freeze" as well as for the best home-made lanterns. And Santa, who arrived at the square in a fire engine, handed out presents to youngsters. After the switch on, about 200 residents who turned out enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and carol singing.

One of the organisers, Jack Limond, said: "It went fantastically well. The procession was brilliant it looked beautiful coming down the hill from the church. We had about 30 lanterns in it. We had the Samba Band from Bishop's Castle there and they played the beat along with the procession. It was a great spectacle. We all gathered in the square where the band played carols for us.

"Santa then arrived in a fire engine and we turned on the Clun lights and then Santa gave away some presents We had about 200 people in the square – it was a nice community gathering.

Mr Limond added: "The lights look great this year. I think we can say the town is really in the Christmas spirit now."