Countdown to Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre has begun

The countdown has begun to a town's annual Medieval Christmas Fayre among the ruins of one Shropshire's finest castles.

The annual Ludlow event takes place every year across two days on the last weekend of November with period music, festive circus entertainers, fancy dress and more than 100 stalls selling gifts not to be found on the high street, all in and around Ludlow Castle.

Prue Dakin, founder of the Medieval Fayre, said: "We wanted to create some new surprises for this year's festival from entertainment to shopping and I'm pleased to say we've got some great treats lined up for all ages.

"With two dedicated stages, the market place marquee and the castle garden stage, plus more in the inner bailey, there's plenty of choice to keep guests young and old entertained.

"Whether you fancy re-enacting a battle, joining in with our minstrels and musicians or simply enjoying our jugglers and jesters as they mingle with the crowd."

Paul Saunders, head of entertainment for the fayre, as well as a musician and performer in his own right, has sourced a raft of brand new entertainment for the weekend including the UK premiere of Tryzna, a celebrated medieval music and dance group from Poland and Ukraine who tour Europe with their shows. Other highlights will include Peterkin's School for Fools about all things jesting, The Bagshotte Waytes, an authentic medieval brass band and Shakespeare's Deadly Duels, marking the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death with swashbuckling sword fights from the history plays.

Pantomime will come to the fayre for the first time with a special performance of Chanticleer and The Fox from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and regulars BZ Ents also return with children's shows "Dastardly Dick or Righteous Richard?" and "What Ho Henry!", both new to the festival.

Paul said: "I'm delighted by the range of new entertainment we're showcasing at this year's Medieval Christmas Fayre on top of our returning regulars. Not only do we have great new music, theatre and live entertainment, we've also got a fantastic new range of free workshops from hat making and flag making to writing your own spell to take home.

"Plus there are circus skills, hands-on history workshops and so much more. There'll be plenty of chances to sing along, join in and get crafting," he said.

There will be carols with The Quire, a medieval nativity play from The Mysterious Crew, theatre and stories from The Shrewsbury Mummers, Discover History's Beastly Battles and sword fighting from the stage by fight expert Peter Cann. Also returning will be the fayre's giant puppet Brother Sid