One of the organisers of a popular Christmas street fair has urged the community to seize on the event’s success and reignite Longtown’s community spirit.

Charlotte Wigham explained what motivated her and fellow Longtown business owner Emma-Jayne Conley to organise last Sunday’s street fair.

“It wasn’t really my business that I was promoting. It was more a personal thing,” said Charlotte, who runs the Flower Time florists on Swan Street.

“Because I have children, and there’s nothing in Longtown for the children. It’s a massive issue.”

Charlotte admitted she feels young people in the town have few options available to them.

“We have the memorial hall, which they’ve only just started putting a children’s club on on a Monday,” she continued.

“It could be used so much more.”

Charlotte also said that Longtown’s games area - “the only place where the children could play football” - is no longer accessible in the evenings and at weekends.

To address the issue, she is now calling on the businesses and residents of Longtown to come together more.

“A lot more of the community needs to get together and work together,” Charlotte explained.

“That’s what we did on Sunday, and it was so fantastic for everyone. It’s the first time in such a long time that the community’s come together.

“It definitely is something we’re going to have every year.”

Emma-Jayne, who runs The Sweet Shop & More, and Charlotte were supported by staff from fellow Swan Street businesses W. Kirkup and Sons and The Lunch Box.

“Karen Johnson from the parish council was a big help,” Charlotte added.

She also wanted to thank Carlisle city councillors John Mallinson and Ray Bloxham for their help in arranging road closures for the event.

The evening, featuring music from the Langholm Pipe Band, Longtown Primary School’s choir and local musicians Danny Wood and Nyah Hannah, was highly praised by Longtown’s county councillor Val Tarbitt.

“It was absolutely superb,” she said.

“I suggested at the last parish council meeting that perhaps if the mood was still there that we might think in the long term about having a monthly market.”

Charlotte says she is more concerned at the moment about ensuring the town’s young people are catered for.

Mrs Tarbitt shares these concerns, and believes a room in the community centre should be handed over to young people in Longtown.

“That’s what I’m trying hard to persuade people to support,” she said.

“They need their own place.”

The fair made a profit of more than £1,000, which will be used for next year’s event.