ULVERSTON'S fifth Dickensian Christmas Festival attracted people from across the globe.

Secretary and treasurer of the festival Peter Winston said during the two-day event at the weekend he spoke to visitors from America, Poland and Romania.

"I don't think they made the trip to England just to come to the festival but one way or another they had heard about the event and came to Ulverston to have a look. It is quite a compliment for the town," said Mr Winston.

Early reports from traders in the town also indicated the event, which saw more than 100 market stalls fill the streets on Saturday and Sunday, gave them a welcome boost.

Mr Winston said: "One shop even told me that it had been the best two trading days it had had since it opened in the town. The charity shops also did record business."

The candlelit procession from the town centre to Ulverston Parish Church, which was an addition to the festival this year, has also been hailed a success with "several hundred" candles being sold. All proceeds from the candles will go to St Mary's Hospice in the town.

Mr Winston said the event, which marks the start of the Christmas season in Ulverston, and saw hundreds dress up in Dickensian clothing, was an "overall success" attracting between 20,000 and 25,000 people.

Organisers predicted the festival would be the biggest so far but the heavy downpours and strong winds put a bit of a dampener on the proceedings.

"It has rained at some point during the festival every year but this weekend it was at the wrong times. On Saturday the early morning rain would have put people off coming from far afield and in the afternoon some market stallholders packed up early because of the winds.

"But more people did make an effort to dress up in Dickensian attire this year than ever before plus there was a great atmosphere in the town," said Mr Winston.

Since the launch of the festival in 1998, its reputation has spread across the country attracting stallholders and coach parties from as far away as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

"One coach firm has already booked for next year and a number of stallholders have put their names down as well. Next year we will build on this year's festival and just pray for better weather," said Mr Winston.