A CHRISTMAS market selling traditional festive fayre and providing yuletide entertainment is being planned for Kendal town centre this year.

Kendal Town Council is looking to run a market similar to the one held annually in its German twin town of Rinteln.

The town centre market would consist of around ten stands or huts selling roast chestnuts, for example, Cumbrian punch, traditional sausages and pancakes. There would also be space for nativity scenes including animals, school carol singing and possibly a portable ice rink.

Kendal Town Council will hear at its next meeting that staging a market: l would enable local producers to offer quality Cumbrian goods to a wider market l attract visitors to Kendal and encourage locals to shop in the town.

l provide entertainment, fun and a sense of community wellbeing over the Christmas period.

A similar market in Skipton attracts thousands of people to the North Yorkshire town and as well as the commercial stalls there are community/charity stalls and the town hall and museum are open selling refreshments. There is a medieval theme and entertainment including knights, jousting and brass bands.

A report to Kendal Town Council says: "The overall effect is similar to Kendal's Mediaeval Market with what appears to be a similar number of visitors."

The market could run over an eight-day period prior to Christmas or, as in Skipton, on the first two Sundays in December.

"This is a low cost, low risk approach and could be considered in Kendal for the first year," says the report to councillors.

They will be looking for a site that would not conflict with the regular market in Market Place. It is felt that the area between Finkle Street and Branthwaite Brow would be "an excellent location."