LUDLOW has launched itself into Christmas and the most vital part of the year for traders in the town in a year when a special effort is being made to boost business.

The Town’s Chamber of Trade has enhanced its activities in the hope that it will persuade more people to shop in the town.

One of the key attractions will be the reintroduction of an evening of late night opening that will involve at least 30 Ludlow shops.

This will be in addition to the Tinsel Tuesday markets that are being staged on the three Tuesdays before Christmas. These were introduced three years ago and as well as providing a focus and seasonal craft market they are also intended to bring more people into the town in the hope that they will also spend money in the town-centre shops.

The starting pistol on Christmas was fired on Saturday (November 28) that was intended as one of Ludlow’s biggest days of the year but the weather had failed to read to script.

Instead of the clear frosty day that had been hoped for there was a rather dull and damp autumn Saturday but this did not stop the town getting switched on to Christmas.

In Ludlow town centre locals and visitors had three events for the price of one.

The Market Square was busy all day but really got down to business in the afternoon with traditional music, the arrival of Santa and then the turning-on of the Christmas lights to transformed Ludlow into something like fairy-land.

Mayor of Ludlow Paul Draper threw the switch to put on the lights from the top of an open-topped double-decker bus helped by five-year-old Gracie-May Hogg.

There was second chance for people to gasp with the illumination of the Tree of Light that is provided by the town’s Rotary Club to enable people to remember a loved one.

There was emotional and atmospheric singing of carols under the tree as the darkness set in.

Among the characters mingling with the crowds during the day were Dame Granny Knott and Red Riding Hood who will be performing at the town’s pantomime which is being performed from early January at Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

There was plenty for children to enjoy. As well as visiting Santa in his grotto, there was face-painting and an opportunity to meet Reindeer Donner and Blitzen from Jolly’s Circus in Craven Arms.

St Laurence Church also got into the spirit of the day with a Christmas Bazaar at which there was a chance to pick up some unusual season gifts including something from Morocco at the ‘Fabriq Au Morac’ stall.

Children’s book author Karen Wallace was also there to meet some of her readers.

Throughout the day, Ludlow Castle was busy with the medieval fair which had people dressed as knights and locals from the time when the castle was one of the most important in England.

Members of the Dudley Household Medieval Re-enactment Group were there to provide some historical authenticity.