Festive fun in the cloisters

3:13pm Friday 8th December 2006

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FESTIVE cheer came to Lacock at the weekend as the village's medieval abbey hosted the third annual Christmas Cloisters event.

Thousands of people flocked to the former Augustinian nunnery for the event, which ran on both Saturday and Sunday.

Karen Gilbert, the visitor services manager of the National Trust property, who helped to coordinate the event, said people took the chance to enjoy the festivities within the abbey, now famed for its role as a location for two Harry Potter films.

She said: "We know that over 3,500 adults came, and when children are included as well, the number of visitors was over 4,000."

Organisers staged the largest event to date with 40 stalls, with additional space provided in a marquee outside the abbey.

Visitors were able to browse a wide variety of goods, including children's toys, plants, textiles and jewellery.

Many also surrendered to the temptations of the numerous delicatessen stalls available, which included a fromagerie and a wine merchant.

A range of musical entertainment was also on offer.

On Saturday, shoppers were able to enjoy the Warminster Brass Band, while Sunday saw the Tea-Time Quartet followed by a five-piece wind group from the Warminster Philharmonic and 4@8, a recorder group from Bath who play regularly at the abbey.

Miss Gilbert said the efforts of the musicians contributed greatly to its overall success.

"The live music gave the whole thing a really festive feel," she said.