A great atmosphere and excellent entertainment compensated for a lack of numbers at a Haworth business’s Christmas party.

The event, which was open to everyone, was staged in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s Bronte Weaving Shed, in Changegate.

The party ran most of the day last Wednesday.

Organiser and area manager Lesley Olive said she had been hoping for more people to attend, but thought the bitterly cold weather may have kept many indoors.

“The people that did come had a fantastic time,” she said.

“The entertainment was out of this world, we just didn’t get the footfall we’d been expecting. It was the coldest day of the year. It won’t stop us from doing this again.”

The attractions on the day included performances by three school choirs, a group of belly dancers called Tribal and a brass band led by local resident Jens Hislop. There was also whisky tasting, mince pies and mulled wine.

Ms Olive paid special tribute to Richard Bailey, who runs the Haworth shop Crystals, Myths and Legends. “He was outside for us from 11am till 6pm roasting chestnuts,” she said. “The poor man was frozen to death but he stood there stoically.”