A TRADITIONAL Christmas market is set to bring some festive magic to the Backstage Centre, in Purfleet.

Roast chestnuts, mulled wine, sweets, Christmas goodies and a traditional butchers – along with carols sung by a Royal Opera House chorus – are some of the delights that will be on offer on Friday, December 4.

The one-day, old-fashioned fair is the brainchild of Backstage Centre manager Toma Dim, who said she got the idea from both her favourite Christmas events around the globe and the success of the Village Beach event in Grays.

She said: “Before the Backstage Centre opened, there was a Christmas market that used to take place with arts and crafts. I love Christmas, I’m a real Christmas person, and one of the things we do is lots of events for young people.

“There’s not much we do that represents the craft side of things, and there didn’t seem to be a traditional arts and crafts Christmas market inThurrock. So, I thought, why not do a traditional vibe Christmas thing here?

“Village Beach was brilliant, I loved it, more than anything else that was the motivation. I just thought, we have got to keep this going. There was something there for everybody, I just had to imagine the atmosphere and do it on a slightly smaller scale.”

Visitors will get a chance to enjoy a singalong with the Royal Opera House Community Chorus performing Christmas carols from 7pm to 9pm, as well as shop at some 20 stalls selling arts and crafts made in Thurrock.

Heidi Webster, owner of Made You Look Flowers is one of the Thurrock-based businesses hosting a stall. She said “I think it’s a really positive step for Thurrock to be putting on a traditional Christmas market, and High House Production Park will be a wonderful setting.

“We have been designing some special Christmas wreaths just for this event and have been getting in the Christmas spirit!”

The Christmas fair will start at 4pm on December 4.