INDEPENDENT retailers and artisan producers will be showcased this festive season as Carlisle looks to welcome a bustling Christmas market and a campaign highlighting small business success.

More than 50 stallholders will pitch up for Carlisle Christmas Artisan Market, a five-day event, from Wednesday November 28, featuring producers, traders and community organisation from the Borderlands.

The city is also supporting Small Business Saturday, a campaign which encourage people to shop local, on December 1.

Colin Glover, leader of Carlisle City Council, said it was important to highlight the city’s independent businesses as well as artisan producers from across the local region.

“There are a lot of small artisan businesses from around the Borderlands region and it’s giving people something special that they won’t see anywhere else,” he said.

“We really want to try to encourage people to come in. It is supporting local businesses. We have done Christmas markets but we took a decision a couple of years ago that we would have a local market rather than an international market but it is going to be much bigger this year.

“Carlisle has got such a wonderful mix of retailers, from high street names to some wonderful gift shops and independent bars and cafes.

“We want Carlisle to be a place where people can come and have a fantastic experience.”

The Christmas market is organised by Sustainable Brampton in partnership with the city council and Food Carlisle.

Market organiser Heather Tipler said a successful social media campaign help drawn in a number of traders and organisation keen to be part of the event and she's hoping people locally will be as keen to support it.

“At one point I was getting two or three people a day,” she said. “It’s not only involving local people it’s involving local organisations.

"It's an event and an experience and it should have a really nice atmosphere.

"We want to encourage people to come in after work and we want people to come along because that is what is going to make it a success."

The market will feature groups including Carlisle Key, Churches Together, community choirs and a ukulele band. There will also be an offer of street food and a marquee where people can sit down and relax.

It's open later than many of the shops for three days and will also be welcoming visitors until 9pm in line with The Lanes Shopping Centre late night shopping.

The market will be held between until Wednesday, November 28, and Sunday, December 2, in the city centre's pedestrianised area. It is open 11am - 6.30pm Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11am - 9pm on Thursday and 11am - 4pm on Sunday.