Zoo time at Wisbech Christmas Market
A "petting zoo" will be one of the novel attractions at the Wisbech Christmas Market on Monday (December 19).
The zoo, operated by the Five Jays company from Whittlesey, gives children the chance to touch and stroke a wide variety of small animals but not, sadly, any reindeer.
"Unfortunately, reindeer are too expensive," said Brian House of Five Jays. "But we'll have a rabbit, dogs, a guinea pig, chickens, a duck and a miniature goat - and, depending on the weather, possibly ferrets, mice and rats."
The star of the show is likely to be Millie, a little brown terrier found dumped in a rubbish skip at Whittlesey when she was about six weeks old.
Workmen took her to the local vets, who found that her windpipe had been crushed. They operated on her and inserted a tube in her throat. Five Jays took her in when no one else would. Now aged 13 she's still going strong and, said Brian, "does she play to the crowd!"
A bouncy castle and a face painter are two other newcomers on the bill for this year's event. They join about 200 stalls and other attractions, including fairground rides, live bands, carol singers, clowns and entertainers, and a falconry display.
Santa and his sleigh will be there, too, of course and there will also be a big craft fair with up to 30 stalls in St Peter's church hall, next to Church Terrace car park.
More than 7,000 people regularly attend the Christmas Market, which is one of the Four Seasons events organised by Fenland District Council in conjunction with Wisbech town council, the Horsefair shopping centre and local community groups.
· Fenland District Council will be operating a free shuttle bus all day to help prevent congestion in the town centre. It will run every 20 minutes from the Horsefair and Elm Road (outside Morrisons), starting at 9am.The Elme Hall Hotel has generously agreed to make its car park available as a park-and-ride site for the whole day.
