Snow falls just in time for Shrewsbury Winter Festival - with pictures and video
It may be winter outside - but it was warm and cosy inside the marquees hosting the Shrewsbury Winter Festival.
More than 200 exhibitors took part in the event in the Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, on Saturday and Sunday, including one who made many visitors do a double take.
Actor and author, John Challis, was at the festival with his collection of books including his autobiography and his first novels that inspired the TV Series The Green Green Grass.
He praised the festival for giving local producers and businesses the chance of a showcase for their work.
"The people of Shropshire like the autobiography, I think they buy it to see if they are in it," he said.
Local producers included Billington's gingerbread from Market Drayton.
The gingerbread - 200 years old this year - was the inspiration for the Ginger and Spice Festival, which won the British Food Fortnight festival of the year award earlier this year.
Sarah Hopcroft from the company, said: "The people of Market Drayton know about the town's connections with gingerbread but not many other people in Shropshire realise that it is the home of gingerbread."
The company's Christmas gingerbread figures have been sold in some of Britain's biggest stores.
"When there is a lot of talk about downsizing it has been interesting that the most popular of our biscuits have been the bigger ones," Sarah said.
Two creatures not feeling the cold were the adorable Buttons the alpaca and her baby, Hot Chocolate, a favourite with children visiting the winter festival.
Shaun Martin from The Alpaca Farm, Newport, said the animals, who originate from South America, were used to the cold.
"When we went out into the field to get Buttons and Hot Chocolate on Saturday morning the snow covered their fleeces as the are so well insulated it doesnt melt. They are very at home in these temperatures."
Organiser of the festival said the event had gone on despite the weather.
"We are all under cover and the marquee is lovely and warm and has matting on the floor. It is a lovely warm haven in the cold weather," she said.
"We have a snow globe inside and this year one outside as well."
Visitor, Charlotte Stone from Shrewsbury, said the festival was a great place to visit.
"It is really good for the town and it is something different for people to do. I am a huge fan of John Challis and so to meet him was brilliant."
