CHRISTMAS came to Clitheroe on Saturday when the town staged a day of festive events.

Clitheroe Christmas Festival featured street entertainment, with performances of A Christmas Carol, music from the Jazz and Blues Festival and riders from the Mod Festival demonstrating what they do best.

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There was also plenty on offer to tantalise the tastebuds of foodies, with participants from the Food Festival making festive treats including stollen, party food, and mince pies - and to help wash it all down there was a pop-up Apothecary bar.

Younger visitors were not disappointed as Santa arrived by train before travelling through town on his sleigh to his Grotto.

Thwaites shire horses were also trotting around the town and there were donkeys for children to ride. The day ended with a walking nativity, with children in costume and a short service held at the Crib at the entrance to the castle.

The event was the first of its kind and was organised by Clitheroe Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

The Festival was organised in just eight weeks, but it is expected to be even bigger and better next year, as planning will start in February.

Chamber president Tony Gould said: “It was really, really good. It was phenomenal.

“There were so many more people in town. It was unbelievable. We’ll definitely repeat it. It worked really, really well.

“We’ll have more time to plan and it’ll be bigger.

“I wanted to enhance shopping in the town, not detract from it.

“I wanted to showcase Clitheroe as a shopping destination and raise money for charity.

“I didn’t want to close roads. We didn’t want it to be like Manchester Markets, competing with retailers.

“We wanted to say this is Clitheroe, but with more going on, a shopping experience more than anything, to showcase the retailers that are here 365 days a year.

“It was really positive, people stayed despite the rain, it was brilliant.”