This year’s Shropshire Handmade and Vintage Christmas Fair hosted by Shrewsbury-based caravan, motorhome and campervan dealership Salop Leisure will be even bigger and better, with 60 stalls sold out way in advance of the event.

The popular annual event was such a success last year that the organiser Carrie Hughes, owner of Shropshire Handmade and Vintage, has a list of 30 exhibitors waiting for a stall at the fair which is being held on November 26 and 27.

Preparing for the Christmas Fair are Sarah Thirwall from Polly Pea handmade children’s clothing with Salop Leisure’s Ed Glover and event organiser Carrie Hughes.

The stalls will be selling a wide range of unique handmade and vintage craft and giftware as well as food from Shropshire and the bordering counties, as the fair is set to fill SalopLeisure’s showroom and extend into sister business Love Plants’ building next door. Entry and parking are free.

"The fair has grown considerably since we started at Salop Leisure two years ago,” said Carrie. “It’s a great venue and it’s going to be bigger and better than previous years. Based on the success of the last two years, traders are very keen to be involved and so the event has sold itself this time.

“The stalls have been booked up since July and I have stopped taking names on the waiting list, as the chances of anyone getting a space are very slim. Some of the traders book as early as January and pay their deposit up front because they don’t want to lose their space.

“The event is based in Shropshire and designed to support independent county crafts businesses. I am pleased as punch that it has grown organically and that Shropshire businesses are working together to stage this fair.”

Salop Leisure will be launching its new Santa’s Grotto at the fair where there will be entertainment by Christmas bellringers, carol singers, a pottery workshop and children’s crafts area. The popular grotto will be open every weekend until Christmas as well as every day in the week leading up to December 25.

Specialist plant centre Love Plants will have Christmas trees, decorations and wreaths for sale and Love Coffee restaurant is planning a range of festive treats.

Tony Bywater, Salop Leisure’s chairman, said the growth of the Christmas Fair was an excellent example of Shropshire companies working together to boost business in the run up to the festive season.