THOUSANDS of visitors - some even from Essex - made their way to Skipton at the weekend for the first of the two Christmas market and Yuletide festivals.

The annual pre-Christmas event, held on the first two Sundays in December, this year marks its 20th anniversary.

It stretches from the closed High Street to the expanding Canal Quarter area - around Coach Street.

And welcoming the almost 100 coaches into town was town mayor, Cllr John Dawson.

“It was a very chilly morning, but the rain held off for most of the day and it was very enjoyable welcoming and chatting with our visitors, all of them eager to make their way into the town," he said.

“We had visitors from Scotland, the North-East, Cumbria, Wales, the Midlands and many from over the border in Lancashire. One coach had come all the way from Southend in Essex.

"The atmosphere all over Skipton was great – and I’m looking forward to doing it all over again this coming Sunday.”

There was a host of entertainment across the town centre and into Coach Street and the 'Canal Quarter' – and many traders reported brisk business and a very successful day.

The day rounded off with a torchlight procession along the High Street for traditional carol singing in Holy Trinity Church grounds.

The town's Christmas markets have been placed in a list of the top ten in the country.

It is also celebrating official Fair Trade Town status, and new look festive lights - along with its tallest ever Christmas tree, donated by the Bolton Abbey estate.

The event, organised by Skipton Town Council with funding from the Skipton Town Partnership, is repeated this Sunday and will run from 10am to 4pm.

A host of entertainment, fun stalls and street acts will take place in the High Street.

The Canal Quarter, around Coach Street, will also be a focus of entertainment featuring Skipton Majorettes, drama group, The Sound of Music,

Christ Church Choir and Skipton Girl Guides.

Returning for a second week will be walkabout acts, including Olaf and Elsa from Disney's hit film, Frozen, the Amazing New York Brass Band, and the popular Granny Turismo.

There will also be performances from the Skipton Camerata Choral Society, Skipton and Barnoldswick brass bands and the Accrington Pipe Band.

Santa, accompanied by real reindeer, will be returning once again and there will be a 16ft high snow globe, where people can pose and take photographs.

Once again the High Street will be closed to traffic and no parking will be allowed overnight on Saturday.