Organisers have been overwhelmed by the number of Ayrshire organisations snapping up space at the Scottish Maritime Museum’s first Christmas Market.

The festive Harbourside market will take place inside the vast, glass-roofed Linthouse building on Harbour Road, Irvine, between 10am – 4pm on Saturday, December 4 – and after quickly filling all 50 available stalls, the museum had to start a waiting list.

It will be free entry to the Christmas Market next month and visitors will discover an exciting and varied range of arts, crafts and goods.

Goods on sale will include home décor, glass art, handmade bags, Christmas decorations, art and photographs, children’s clothes, hampers, jewellery, hand crafted personalised gifts, silk scarves, soaps, candles, Christmas cards, honey and much more.

Visitors will also enjoy glass-blowing demonstrations as Robert McLeod, Chair of the British Society of Scientific Glassblowers, crafts sparkling Christmas decorations which will also be on sale at the Christmas Market. Children can enjoy getting crafty, creating their own paper Christmas decorations in free ‘Make and Take’ workshops.

Dr Ayako Tani will also chat to everyone about the fascinating but endangered traditional craft of glassblowing. Interested visitors can also view Dr Tani’s exhibition ‘Glass Ships in Bottles’, which is on display in the Museum until January 9.

Visitor Services Assistant Manager Eva Bukowska said: “We are thrilled with the response from local organisations.”