THOUSANDS of people made their way to Saundersfoot seafront at the weekend to enjoy the annual St Nicholas Christmas Market.

Organised by Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism, the three-day event featured more than 40 stalls in and around the marquee, with goods ranging from Pembrokeshire produce to local crafts.

Demonstrations and tastings by chefs Lisa Fearn, Guy Morris and Arno Tiesing proved popular in Kitchen Corner, while the marquee’s new addition of The Music Box served up some lively sounds, with local teenage band Tukedo Funktion topping the bill.

“Having live music inside the venue helped create a brilliant atmosphere,” said Chamber chairman Phil Odley.

“It’s all part of our mission to give added value to the market, and - as Small Business Saturday was at the weekend - it’s nice to know we’ve encouraged people to come in to Saundersfoot support local shops and businesses as well as the market.”

Christmas carols from Castle School’s choir on Friday afternoon set the scene for Father Christmas’s arrival, and a count-

down heralded the switch-on of the village’s Christmas tree to complete the picture of Saundersfoot’s festive illuminations. Many young visitors enjoyed an audience with the man himself in Santa’s Grotto during the weekend, and a display of birds of prey from Pembrokeshire Falconry also proved to be a great attraction.

The market’s admission fee gave everyone free entry into the Grand Market Draw, with prizes donated by Chamber members and stallholders.

The next event organised by the Chamber will be the St David’s Food and Craft Festival, featuring the Cawl Cooking Championships of the World…and Elsewhere, which will be staged in and around Saundersfoot’s new Regency Hall on March 1 and 2.