Last updated at 16:46, Sunday, 11 December 2011

BARROW’S first traditional Christmas market has been hailed a success.

UP AND AWAY: Enjoying Barrow’s traditional log cabin Christmas Market are members of the Furness Building Society/NSPCC cabin (from left) Liz Hetherington, Lorretta Blackburn, Sarah Wane and Helen Herbert. JON GRANGER REF: 50027645B000

Shoppers and traders braved some bitter weather at the town's first Christmas Market.
From Friday until Sunday, 23 log cabins stretched down Dalton Road, offering festive food, toys, drink and gifts to shoppers.
Barrow Borough Council and the North-West Evening Mail teamed up to create the market to boost Christmas shopping in the town.
Crowds lined the road to see Santa, complete with reindeer all the way from the Cairngorm mountains, process down Abbey Road to the Town Hall on Friday evening.
Trade on Friday started slowly as rain kept some shoppers away, but the crowds swelled on Saturday as the sun came out.

Frank Stretton, commercial director at the North-West Evening Mail, said overall the event had been a success.
He said: “A lot of people had smiles on their faces and I think it was really good event for the local community. Barrow was bustling all weekend, and in particular on Saturday.
“Feedback from traders in the chalets and the shops was that footfall in the town centre was significantly higher than normal.
“Hopefully it is the start of something big. I am looking forward to the feedback from traders on how their year on year sales have been.”

For a full report and a two-page picture special, see Monday's Evening Mail.

First published at 10:55, Friday, 09 December 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk