VILLAGERS in Cleobury Mortimer have been urged to enter the season of goodwill and throw their weight behind two days of Yuletide fun at a building at the centre of controversy.

The new-look market hall will be transformed into Santa's Grotto and will hold a Christmas fair in the two Saturdays leading up to the big day in an attempt to "put the past behind" what has been a stressful year for backers of the project to refurbish the hall.

Cleobury Mortimer Parish Council is £10,000 in debt to South Shropshire District Council after borrowing the money to pay off the builder - but chairman Don Griffiths said the events would be a chance for residents to show their support.

He said: "This Christmas fair will be for the people of Cleobury Mortimer but also for people from outside the village to come and enjoy themselves."

Mr Griffiths said the market hall was "doing more than breaking even" since it re-opened.

He said he was thrilled with the work of hall manager Peggy Munro-Hall, who told the Shuttle/Times & News the refurbished building would be "a light in the centre of Cleobury" during the festive period.

She said: "It's about putting into the market hall the spirit of goodwill and sharing. This is about people trying to put the past behind them and look forward and what better way than a celebration of Christmas."

The hall will be open between 10am and 4.30pm on December 13 and 20. Children will be able to see Santa while food and Christmas gifts will be on sale from district traders.

Mrs Munro-Hall said: "We want to get the whole village involved - we are putting our backs into this."

Members of the parish council this year found themselves short of cash for the last instalment on the £320,000 hall project but the shortfall was reduced after an independent audit found the council owed £30,000 less than it thought.

Mr Griffiths said: "It's been a testing time. Unfortunately for the new members of the council we have had to pick up the pieces but I am very pleased the way things have turned out."