Christmas has made its return to a town - after last year's lack of seasonal decorations led to accusations it had been 'forgotten'. Now a tree has gone up at Stoke Minster while lights have also been installed.

Last night and a 'community celebration' was held in Stoke where the seasonal lights were turned on. It comes after the church had applied for funding to host both a tree and get some Christmas lights for the town.

Last year, as reported by StokeonTrentLive, the town had been picked as one of 10 places for a national government pilot scheme to breathe new life into 'left-behind' areas. Those areas would initially receive £237,000 from the 'High Street Accelerators' programme to help residents and community organisations work with their local authority and businesses on long-term regeneration plans.

Cash had come from that pot along with funding from Merkur Community and ward budget grants from local councillors Andy Platt and Daniela Santoro to support the festive decorations. Friday night's entertainment came courtesy of Penkhulll Brass Band and the Staffordshire Choirs Association.

Ex-Stoke City manager and charity champion Lou Macari was expected to lead the celebrations, which were hosted by the city's Lord Mayor Councillor Lyn Sharpe. Organisers hope the lights and tree will help bring some festive cheer to the town this year.

In 2023 StokeonTrentLive reported how locals felt the area had been 'forgotten' with no tree or lights - aside from some on the edge of Stoke Market. At the time it was claimed voluntary groups had been ‘hit hard’ ever since Covid struck and it had been hard to enlist enough volunteers.

This year and locals are hoping the festive decorations will give a boost to the town. It also comes at at time where there are ambitious plans for the Spode site where historic buildings are set to be brought back into use with £10 million of levelling up cash.

Meanwhile efforts to bring more people into Stoke have been boosted by FEASTED, who announced it would be holding a bi-monthly food festival in the town. Over on Glebe Street and construction work continues on the £60 million Goods Yard 'urban village'.

Paul Adams, parish warden at Stoke Minster, is pleased to see the decorations go up. He said: "We really think that Stoke should have some festive sparkle, and when we saw that there was an opportunity to apply for funding we went for it! It has all been a bit last minute, but everyone has pulled together to make the event happen.

"We hope that the Christmas tree and lights will bring festive cheer to everyone who sees it and encourages people to come into Stoke."

Today (November 16) and a Christmas fayre will be taking place at Stoke Minster between 11am and 2pm. It will feature songs from Penkhull Village brass alongside local arts, crafts and Christmas gifts.

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