Dickens-themed market run after storm cancellation

A Victorian-themed Christmas market has been held in a Kent town after the cancellation of one of the county's biggest events of the year.

The Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival due to be held on 7 and 8 December was abandoned due to Storm Darragh.

An alternative event took place on the High Street on Saturday to help support local businesses.

Medway Council leader Vince Maple said the market was important "not just for the businesses that are here 365 days of the year, but also for the community".

The Dickens-inspired market was arranged in just a week.

Shopkeepers were invited to set up stalls outside and people travelled to the town dressed in Victorian costume.

Shane Waterman, vice chairman of the Rochester City Centre Forum, part of the organising team said: "You've got to do what you can do. This weekend is what we can do."

He said Rochester could "pull rabbits out the hat and this is a pretty big rabbit and a big hat".

Tiny Tims of Rochester, a café in the town centre, lost £6,000 in stock due to the cancellation of Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival.

Owner Steve Morgan said: "Last weekend was tough, but today is a bit better, people are coming into the High Street

"We're fully booked later on."

The town's other festive market was also cancelled earlier in December due to the Met Office weather warning of high winds, reopening the following weekend.

The decision to cancel was "looked at really carefully but safety was always going to be paramount", said Mr Maple.

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