QUEEN Victoria could have been back on the throne as Chipping Sodbury descended into the Victorian era.

The town made a marked return to the traditional roots of its annual Victorian evening on Friday as thousands of visitors flocked to see Santa and sample the delights of a time gone by.

In recent years, Victorian day has become associated with large funfair rides and underage drinking but this year organisers stripped the event back to its bare bones.

"Lots of people adopted Victorian attire for the day and it was jam packed," said organising committee member David Shipp.

"We took the commercial element out of it and had just the right number of amusements. All the reaction we have had so far has been very positive."

Winterbourne Handbell Ringers took to the specially-erected stage in Broad Street, along with Dodington Parish Band who performed with parents and pupils from Old Sodbury Primary School.

Children from St John's Mead and Chipping Sodbury primary schools sang Christmas carols and Bristol Morris Men entertained the crowds with jigs in the street.

Shoppers were in heaven as traders stayed open late, offering visitors mulled wine and mince pies, and there was a sumptuous farmers' market with plenty of home-made produce to taste and take home.

Charity stalls also lined the streets and the smells of roasted chestnuts and toffee apples proved too tempting for some.

Mr Shipp added: "It went very well and the committee is very pleased with the way everything has gone.

"Most traders had a good day which was really what it was about because we wanted to promote Chipping Sodbury as a real alternative to Christmas shoppers.

"We will now talk to traders and find out the positives and negatives before our debrief in January when we will then look forward to repeating Victorian day in 2008."