Hundreds of shoppers joined a range of independent traders at a popular Christmas market in Ipswich town centre.
The annual St Peter's Street Winter Market took place on Sunday, November 27.
Ipswich residents had a chance to look for Christmas presents among 35 stalls with many selling locally-produced goods.
Despite the chilly weather and rain, independent traders and artists set up their stalls and warmly welcomed all the shoppers, offering goods such as artisan jewellery, and refreshments.
Cathy Frost, the owner of Loveone and one of the organisers of the market, said: “Despite the rain, we've got quite a good crowd today.
“People came out to support the traders and the sales are very good, which makes me very pleased and relieved.
“It’s a very nice mixture of new and old traders, who come here every year.
“The whole point about the market is about community. We want to bring shoppers and traders to our street.
“It’s a quite safe, not overwhelming environment. Everybody is very friendly and supportive.”
Mayor of Ipswich, John Cook, added that the St Peter's Street Winter Market is a great event that brings lots of residents to the town centre.
Mr Cook added: “The traders do a lot of work to make this market happen, and I’m very pleased to support them.”
One of the traders, Marie of Marie so Illustrations, said: “You can't do much about the weather, but the atmosphere is amazing, and the organisation is wonderful.
“We've met some lovely friends here, all the stallholders are so lovely.”
All the traders were very happy to see each other and the customers again, as it is their first meet-up since the Covid pandemic.
Jack Abbott, Labour and Co-operative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Ipswich, said it is “absolutely fantastic” that so many people turned out to support local businesses.
Mr Abbott added: “It is important now more than ever to support local traders in this difficult time in terms of the cost-of-living crisis.”
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