SCROOGE would not have been a happy man at Wantage's Dickensian Evening, as people last Friday enjoyed themselves and spent money at street stalls and shops that stayed open late.

An estimated 4,000 people thronged the Market Place and surrounding streets, and the really 'cool' attraction was a synthetic ice rink - the centrepiece paid for by a grant of £3,6000 from the Lottery Awards for All.

Charity stall holders and many shop staff dressed in Victorian costumes.

There were fairground rides for children, Punch and Judy shows, and dancing displays from the Icknield Way Morris Men and the Circle Dancers. Wantage Silver Band and St Deny's handbell ringers provided music for singalong Christmas carols.

There was a children's painting competition, a bouncy castle at the Baptist church, stalls, music from the choir at the parish church, and a festival and carols at the Methodist church.

Father Christmas called in at the Vale and Downland Museum, where the St John Vianney choir sang carols.

Mayor Lorraine Todd presented prizes to winners of a painting competition, 'A Green Eco-Friendly Christmas'. The winners were Chloe Pryde, five, from St Nicholas School, and Sam Allen, ten, from Ridgeway School. Each received a ukulele.

Mrs Todd and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey welcomed visitors and the chairman of the organising committee, John Hudson, said: "The town was buzzing with activity and people young and old enjoyed themselves. Shops were busy and it was an encouraging start for businesses in the run-up to Christmas."

He added: "Now we start thinking about our plans for next year's festivities."

There will be a public meeting on January 14 in the museum, at 1pm, and Mr Hudson said the committee would like to hear the views of people about last Friday's event - "Feedback is essential so we can plan to make next year's event an even better attraction."