FAMILIES from all over Swindon attended a special Christmas celebration at the STEAM Museum this weekend.

Visitors browsed through more than 50 market stalls selling everything from festive fairy cakes to hand-made stocking fillers.

Santa’s story time took place in a cosy fireside setting inside the museum’s Hawksworth Hall and included a mix of Christmas stories and sing-a-longs.

Musical performances were also on offer to keep the crowds entertained, with renditions from the Kentwood Show Choir, Swindon Male Voice Choir, Swindon School of Brass, Swindon Pegasus Brass and The Fortune Saxophone Quartet.

Carolyn Lovett, events manager at STEAM, said: “Its has been a fantastic event so far. We have had a lot of visitors and all the stalls look brilliant.

“We have hosted this event every year for the past 12 years, and it is always very popular. It’s quite a lot of work – we start organising it in July. But it’s wonderful to see it all come together.”

Market stalls inside the museum stocked a whole range of tempting goods, from hand crafted silver jewellery to photographic prints and glass artworks.

There was also a Christmas Café inside the Great Western Hall, offering festive hot and cold snacks.

Pensioners Martin and Maria Brinkworth, from Lydiard, had come to look for gifts for their seven grandchildren.

Maria, 70, said: “We come to this event every year, and it seems to get better and better. Martin likes looking at the trains and I like to buy thinks for the family.

“It’s a lovely way to spend a Sunday and I’m sure we’ll be back next year.”