TWO years after it was first set up, Helmsley in Business (HiB) is celebrating another summer of successful events and is looking forward to planning a third Christmas Tree ftestival.

A two-week wedding dress festival in the town’s All Saint’s Church last month attracted hundreds of visitors and raised more than £1,000, which will be split between church improvements and Helmsley in Business, to fund future events.

The wedding festival coincided with a weekend of Yorkshire Day celebrations with street entertainers performing for the crowds, along with regional food tastings, a cake show, a Yorkshire Icon Trail, river racing and welly wanging.

The Christmas Tree festival will run from December 6 to 22, and this year’s theme is festive icons.

About 30 decorated trees will again be displayed in the church, and following a £1,500 investment by HiB, Christmas lights and decorations have been secured.

HiB will again take part in national Small Business Saturday on December 6, with activities and offers across the town.

The group now has 47 members, and a new committee, including chairman Pennita Wilshire, who owns Pennita fashions.

She said: “All over the country, high streets and market towns are struggling, but the businesses in Helmsley were determined that wasn’t going to happen here. HiB goes from strength to strength. You can achieve so much more as a collective than as individuals.

“We’re delighted the summer events were so successful – despite the weather trying to catch us out – and we’re very much looking forward to Christmas festivities. We’ve got lots of things up our sleeve.”

Go to visithelmsley.co.uk or follow Helmsley on Facebook/visithelmsley or @visithelmsley on Twitter.