Melton’s Christmas market is cancelled

The event, with a variety of stalls selling festive products and refreshments, was due to run from Friday through to Sunday.

But from Wednesday, Melton borough will be subject to the highest Tier 3 Covid restrictions, including the requirement to socialise outdoors in groups of no more than six people.

All retail shops can remain open, however, with customers required to wear masks and observe social distancing measures.

Melton BID manager, Shelagh Core, told the Melton Times this morning (Monday): “A decision has been made to cancel the Christmas Market this year, but we are encouraging residents to support our shops and businesses in shopping locally this December for their Christmas gifts.”

The Christmas market had been organised to replaced the popular annual Victorian Christmas Fayre and festive lights switch-on events which were cancelled because of the pandemic.

Despite the cancellation of the Christmas market, the traditional weekly Tuesday and Saturday street markets will continue in the town this week and through December.

There will be free parking in the town again on Friday in a bid to attract more shoppers, and again on the following two Fridays in the run-up to Christmas.

The free parks are those operated by the borough council, in Burton Street, Scalford Road and Mill Street.