FESTIVE gifts and treats were on offer at Swanage’s popular Christmas Fair on Saturday, organised by traders.

Alongside the stalls set up in Commercial Road, selling locally-made crafts and goods, Christmas trees, jewellery, chocolate and produce, there was live music and a hog roast.

Swanage Chamber of Trade president Brian Barker said that with the Sandbanks ferry closed for a refit and repainting the fair had given town businesses a much-needed seasonal boost.

“Both Saturday’s fair and the one in Station Road last week went very well, and brought a lot of extra people into the town, which has been hit hard through the ferry being closed.

“The work on the ferry has to be done, but it is only a two-year project so next year should be better, with hopefully a better summer as well. Swanage is always ready to welcome visitors.”