BRECON is launching a Christmas fight back against larger retail centres with a temporary shop showcasing the best it has to offer.

Independent shops and individual artists and craft producers have joined forces to operate the 'pop up' shop in a disused building at the George Hotel.

Johanna Woolford, who owns the Canter-Happy tack shop, and is one of the brains behind the Brecon Christmas Village, said: "Brecon has suffered and has had poor coverage as a retail area but is now starting to get more and more independent shops and this should attract more people as they realise what is available.

"People coming into the Christmas Village may not be aware of what my shop sells, or people may not know Brecon has an underwear shop, so hopefully it will raise awareness of independent traders."

The seven day a week shop will trade up until Christmas Eve while this weekend, Saturday December 1 and Sunday, December 2 a Christmas Fair is being held in the Courtyard of the George Hotel, featuring local school choirs, the Brecon Town Band and Trallong Ladies Choir as well as Santa's Grotto.

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