HUNDREDS of people stopped to shop or to visit Santa at a Christmas market.

Volunteers, residents and staff welcomed members of the public to the annual event at Acorn Village in Mistley.

There were craft stalls and toys for sale as well as rides, a miniature steam train and a chance to get inside a fire engine at the market on Saturday.

Dancers performed to crowds outside, while a new grotto for Mr and Mrs Christmas had been created with a huge papier mache camel as part of a festive scene.

Kate Williams, marketing co-ordinator at Acorn Village, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to our nearly 100 volunteers, before costs the event has made just over £10,000, an incredible amount.”