BARNARD Castle residents got into the Christmas spirit over the weekend after the town council put on a free two-day festive extravaganza.

The festivities started on Friday night when Father Christmas arrived on a sleigh built by Teesdale YMCA children and turned on the Christmas Tree lights in the town’s Lower Galgate.

Father Christmas then retired to his grotto in the Methodist Church where the public enjoyed seasonal refreshments, and entertainment including face painting and a story teller.

The merriment continued on Saturday when the town hosted a Christmas farmers’ market and a crafts fair with dozens of stalls at The Witham.

Victorian crafts were also put on by the Dickens in Teesdale group who were dressed up as Victorians and showed people how to do traditional crafts such as painting baubles and making Christmas wreaths in a marquee at Scar Top.

A reindeer on stilts and snowman were also doing the rounds to spread festive cheer throughout the day.

Later in the afternoon a Christmas carol concert, hosted by the Barnard Castle Churches Together, was held in the Methodist Church which was attended by several of the region’s mayors including the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Gerald Lee and Barnard Castle Town Mayor, Councillor John Blissett.

The event ended with a fireworks display set to music where dozens of people gathered to see a fire dance with masked performers at the castle.

Town clerk, Michael King, said: “I think when you have seen a reindeer on stilts mingling with a farmers’ market it tells you Christmas is really here.”