DOZENS of flickering candle-lit lanterns lent an old worlde look to the High Street in Marlborough on Thursday for the Spirit of Christmas late night shopping evening.

The Chamber of Commerce organised the Spirit of Christmas to replace the Victorian evenings held for the previous eight years, that had been criticised for their lack of period entertainments.

One of the Spirit of Christmas organising committee, Caroline Clarkson-Cowles, said she was delighted with the success of the event because it had been planned at short notice.

Mrs Clarkson-Cowles, who runs Carries hair salon in New Road, said prospects for the event taking place at all had been bleak because the chamber did not have a sponsor.

However, after hearing of the chamber's dilemma James Caldwell, from the AISA Financial group, put up £3,000 sponsorship and Count Konrad Goess-Sarau, from Temple Farming Estate on behalf of the Marlborough Cup, chipped in with another £1,000.

Mrs Clarkson Cowles said: "Considering we had only seven weeks in which to plan it we think it went off very well.

"We tried to get as many things as we could for people to do in the High Street but because we had left it so late many people were booked up.

"Even so there were lots of things for people to do and now that AISA Financial Services has said it will sponsor it again, we can get on and plan next year's event."

One of the biggest criticisms of the revamped late night shopping evening was the decision not to close the High Street and allow traffic to flow as normal.

This led to conflict with vehicle noise drowning out the sound of choirs and some families were concerned at the danger to children as they tried to cross the road to view the activities taking place on the pavements on both sides.

Mrs Clarkson-Cowles said: "There had been complaints in the past that when the High Street was closed many of the local businesses lost trade.

"We have shown that it is possible to put on activities in the High Street without closing the road and it did pay off because businesses have said they took more money than last year."

The organisers paid for steel fence panels to be put up along both sides of the street, which provided plenty of room for activities and for families to walk in safety. Parking was permitted in the central reservation down the length of the street.

There was plenty to do with some 40-50 stalls run by local charities and organisations but people had to walk considerable distances past gaps with no entertainment.

There were two brass bands, the Ramsbury and the Phoenix, a couple of choirs and two discos either side of the street providing a musical background.

There were hot chestnut sellers, a balloon modeller, stunt man Kenny Dean and face painters, as well as a fairground organ outside the town hall apron. Inside the town hall was an elf and fairy disco for children.

Barbecue and hot dog stalls were run by Marlborough Scouts, Marlborough Conservatives and by the carnival committee, which made £200 profit from its stall.

Marlborough Mayor David Watson, carnival queen Katie Ball and carnival princess Natalie Merritt shared the task of symbolically switching on the Christmas lights.

The town council this year made a £1,000 grant for the lights.