Residents and students met joined the seasonal festivities at a Christmas market held at Barking and Dagenham College.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Lucy Evans (left) and Laura Thompson sell cup cakes.Lucy Evans (left) and Laura Thompson sell cup cakes. (Image: Archant)

Visitors met with Santa and his real reindeer in his grotto at the annual event on December 18, which featured more than 20 stalls. Students and staff sold cakes, beauty products, fashion accessories, festive food and woolly hats. Trainee bakers offered decorated Genoa cakes, Yule Logs and shortbread, while student florists sold their Christmas wreaths and candle arrangements.

Fashion students were selling handmade decorations, bunting and bags, and trainee beauty therapists offered mini-manicures and a Christmas nail art competition.

Visitors could also burn off some extra calories on a stationary bike hooked-up to LED Christmas lights. For more pictures click on the picture gallery on the right.