LUDLOW launches its response to ‘Black Friday’ today.

The town is staging the first of three ‘Tinsel Tuesday’ events intended to stimulate trade in the town with free parking in all town centre car parks from midday.

Special markets will be held in the town on the remaining Tuesdays before Christmas and will sell gifts.

Now in its third year of existence, Ludlow’s Christmas shopping days come in the form of a traditional Christmas gift market that compliments the many attractive small shops that offer something different.

Tinsel Tuesdays are a Ludlow Chamber of Commerce initiative, supported by its members to make something out of what normally would be a quiet trading day with no market trading in Castle Square.

“Ludlow has so much to offer, in such attractive surroundings, it’s a very compact town centre, with many small shops, you can find something for everyone on your Christmas list,” said Tish Dockerty, secretary of Ludlow Chamber of Commerce.

This year there is entertainment from ‘Merrie Noyse’ who will bring the square to life with their traditional music and on different days there will be a number of local primary schools coming down to sing alongside the Christmas Tree.

The Christmas Gift Market has retained its character by only allowing craftspeople that make their own goods or food producers to trade.

Ludlow Chamber of Trade says that it wants to thank Ludlow Town Council for its continued support for the event as well as Shropshire Council for their offer of free parking in all town centre car parks in Ludlow from midday.

This year includes a window dressing competition.