THE SUN shone on Royston Christmas Carnival on Sunday. The event, which featured a farmers market and gift fair, attracted a high number of Christmas shoppers to the town centre. Town centre manager Geraint Burnell said: For the first time in three year

THE SUN shone on Royston Christmas Carnival on Sunday.

The event, which featured a farmers' market and gift fair, attracted a high number of Christmas shoppers to the town centre.

Town centre manager Geraint Burnell said: "For the first time in three years I can say that the weather was fabulous. It made a big difference to the turnout.

"We had a significantly higher number of people coming in throughout the day compared to last year, and I've had very positive reports from the market traders," he said.

As ever, the funfair at the end of Angel Pavement was very popular, while young people from the Revelation Church sang Christmas carols and other festive songs to try and raise cash for Jimmy's Night Shelter.

Father Christmas was present in his Christmas gazebo, handing out gifts to children, with the assistance of elves from the Royston Round Table.

Mr Burnell said: "As ever we're thankful to Father Christmas, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Terry Hutt, and to the elves from the Round Table.

"We're also very grateful to the Stationery Cupboard, Market One, Shop on the Corner, and the Cave Shop for supplying us with gifts, and for Boots, who donated the wrapping paper," he said.

With money still being counted, more than £200 was collected on the day for the mayor's charity.

"This is a very generous donation from the people of Royston in these difficult economic times," said Mr Burnell.