Mr Pickwick, Tiny Tim and David Copperfield.

The folk of Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales, dressed up as characters from Charles Dickens novels today, in order to add a bit of atmosphere to the annual Christmas Fayre.

The main street and market square was decked out with fairy lights and loads of stalls selling anything from mulled wine up to wallet busting festive candles.

And it was packed.

It seemed that half the middle-aged ladies of Newcastle had descended on the place. The coaches kept rolling in and dropping off their passengers and then having to park up outside the town because there wasn't enough room in the carpark for them all.

For entertainment, there were Morris Dancers, fire-eaters, jugglers and an open air Carol concert accompanied by a brass band. Every 50 yards or so, young kids would be singing carols or a flautist, or a trio with guitar and tambourine, all collecting for charity. The highlight later on was a candlelit procession, following Mary and Joseph who were riding a donkey. One enterprising Tiny Tim lookalike was even doing shoe-shines for a quid.

Everyone enjoyed it except.....

My wallet!

Ouch!