PICKERING should make the most of this Saturday's Dickensian day, because it will be the last one of its kind.

Organiser Natalie Warriner says she will not be organising another one next year. Her decision coincides with permission for a large Eventex street market and amusements next month.

She said: "It's not right that the town should be shut down for two days in the run-up to Christmas."

She added: "The whole object of the Dickensian Day was to raise the profile of the town and get the community together."

The Dickensian Day, being running this year for the third year, has traditionally attracted large crowds.

It is when the town's Christmas lights are formally switched on by Father Christmas.

The Eventex farmers market, which usually runs alongside the Dickensian Day, is not available this year, says Natalie.

"Let's make this Dickensian Day the best one yet and prove to ourselves that a family-oriented day at this time of the year is the sort of event Pickering needs."

Christmas light-up time is at around 4.15pm. Father Christmas will be assisted by last year's elves who have kindly agreed to allow their mothers to alter their last year's costumes to fit.

Updated: 09:26 Thursday, November 22, 2001