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Students pick up tools to help Christmas Market

College students are helping to build a winter wonderland for the spectacular new Ashton Christmas Market in Greater Manchester.

More than 50 Tameside students – studying a variety of subjects from engineering and welding to carpentry and plumbing – have been using products sourced from Tameside suppliers to construct the 30 traditional-style wooden cabins that will form the festive village in Market Street, alongside Ashton Market Hall.

The project is providing the trainees, who are working alongside skilled professionals, with work experience in a real life commercial setting. They will have the opportunity to see the fruits of their labours being out to use when the much anticipated Christmas market opens in December.

Tameside Council Deputy Executive Leader Cllr John Taylor, who is responsible for markets, said: “Involving the local community is a key feature of the new Christmas market and we’re delighted to be working with Tameside students and suppliers at this crucial construction stage. We hope the wooden cabins, which they are working on, will be used in the borough for many years to come.”

Richard Gleaves, Tameside College Head of Department for Built & Natural Environments, said: “This is valuable experience for the trainees to be put on site in a real working environment, working to a strict timetable and standards. It will be particularly rewarding for them to see their finished products being put to use within the community this Christmas and beyond.”

Ashton Christmas Market will run from 8 to 22 December and offer a range of festive fare – from crafts and gifts to food and mulled wine. It will also be the focal point for family friendly entertainment including a lantern parade, fireworks display, Victorian carousel and daily live music, choir and brass band performances.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .