DESPITE showery rain and blustery winds, hundreds of people turned out to enjoy Devizes Christmas market and see Father Christmas switch on the town's Christmas lights on Friday evening.

Up to 100 traders began to arrive as early as 7.30am for the Christmas market, which is in its third year.

By 9am the whole of the Market Place, the High Street and The Brittox were filled with stalls selling everything from candles to

mobile phone accessories.

You could order your summer patio

furniture or fill all the stockings for your

family with everything from CDs to chocolates.

But organiser Alex Duffey was disappointed with the number of people who had turned up compared to last year.

He said: "We may have got our advertising wrong. We decided to take more radio

advertising but I think it would have been more effective if we had advertised for longer in the local papers."

Nevertheless, by the time darkness fell the town was extremely busy and parking space was at a premium.

By 5.30pm the Wharf was packed with

parents and children who had come to

welcome Father Christmas as he arrived in town by canal boat.

Once again organised by Devizes Lions Club, the whole event went like clockwork. The barge with Santa's illuminated sleigh on its roof coasted under the canal bridge, turned majestically and moored at the Wharf.

Father Christmas, this year played by Lion Chris Ellis, disembarked and spent several minutes handing out sweets to the hundred or so children who had turned up to greet him.

He also met members of Wiltshire Young Carers, children who look after dependent older relatives, who had created superb lanterns on long poles, and accompanied

Father Christmas as he was driven to the Market Place aboard Tom Fussell's vintage Peugeot car.

The lanterns were mainly star-shaped, but one magnificent creation was a sailing ship, complete with masts and sails. Devizes Boys Brigade Old Boys Band also accompanied the parade.

In the Market Place, Justin Leonard of

Devizes Hospital Radio tried valiantly to make room for the car as Father Christmas arrived and made his way to the covered stage where he pressed the switch to light up the town.

After the ceremony cabaret group Advert entertained the crowds until it was time for the spectacular firework display that ended the evening.

Mr Duffey said: "Though we didn't have as many people as last year, it was still a very successful event. We have learned from our mistakes, as we do each year, and next year will be even better than ever.

"I was particularly pleased about the craft fair in the Corn Exchange where we had traders from as far as Poole and Birmingham. That is an area we can look to expand next year."