Last updated 07:57, Friday, 14 November 2008

AN AFTERNOON of celebrations has been arranged to mark completion of the new-look Market Place in Cockermouth.

Cockermouth Town Council and the Cockermouth Partnership have organised the event on Saturday, December 6, which will finish with a lantern procession.

The Saturday Farmers’ Market will be extended, and from 2pm there will be music and entertainment.

This will include local groups such as Belfagan Women’s Morris, the Gardenelles folk duo, plus carol singing with the Cockermouth Mechanics Band and the Castlegate Singers, as well as street theatre with the Fairly Famous Family, and Theatre by the Lake’s Storytree working with All Saints School.

There will also be a competition for the best Cumberland Sausage, organised by Cockermouth Cittaslow and Slow Food group, and ‘Love Food, Hate Waste’ cookery demonstrations from Mawbray cook Annette Gibbons.

“We want this to be a community celebration,” said Eric Nicholson, town and county councillor and Partnership member.

“It will mark the end of the upheaval of the refurbishment and look forward to a bright and colourful future where the space is increasingly used for community events.

“We’d like as many people as possible to take part in the lantern procession, and we’ve engaged artists from the Maryport Settlement to work with families and individuals to create spectacular paper lanterns for the final parade.”

There will be two lantern-making sessions in Victoria Hall, High Sand Lane, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, November 22, and Saturday, November 29. These will be free and open to all.