LATE night Christmas shopping is back in Ludlow.

More than 30 Ludlow shops are getting behind Late Night Ludlow which coincides with the last Tinsel Tuesday Traditional Christmas Gift market on Tuesday, December 22.

Both shops and the Christmas Gift market will stay open until 7pm.

The Tinsel Tuesday initiative that was introduced three years ago will continue on December 8, 15 and 22.

But the late night opening makes a return after it was stopped four years ago to make way for the Tinsel Tuesdays.

Ludlow Chamber of Trade say that all three Tinsel Tuesday’s promise to pack a punch for shoppers this December with an interesting array of stallholders which match Ludlow’s many unique independent shops, which all offer something a bit different from most high street chains.

There will be free parking on the Tuesdays in all main car parks including Castle Street, Smithfield and Lower Galdeford from midday, courtesy of Shropshire Council and Ludlow Town Council.

The Christmas Gift Market promises shoppers something a bit special as well as a hog roast, music, as well as some carol singing around the Christmas Tree at 6pm on the last Tuesday which all local choirs are invited to and members of the public are welcome to join in.

Tinsel Tuesdays, now in its fourth year, came from the Ludlow Chamber of Commerce’s regular monthly meetings with local businesses.

“We are all behind this initiative, it’s our chance to make a serious Christmas shopping offer, we hope to attract many extra customers into town to help boost trade for the many of our excellent independent shops, all of which offer something different,” said Muff Murfin, chairman of the Chamber.

The Chamber of Trade also coordinate the ‘Only in Ludlow’ campaign. The Chamber has invested in a logo and window stickers for all independent shops to display in their windows.

Ludlow’s Christmas Gift Market will offer handcrafted Christmas gifts that promise shoppers alternatives to the everyday. Applications for stalls can be obtained by emailing Tish Dockerty, Chamber Secretary and volunteer manager for the Tinsel Tuesdays, tish@ludlowchamber.co.uk Ludlow Town Council