East Yorkshire’s Scandinavian community held its biggest event of the year at the weekend with its Christmas Market at the Danish Church and Nordic House.

The market, which again attracted visitors from across the north as well as neighbours from round the corner, dates back to the 1960s and is the result of a huge effort.

Dorthe Hostick, chair of the social fund at the Danish Church, said: “For us it is stressful and hard work but we love working together to make it happen. The preparations start at the beginning of the year and it has become so much more difficult because of Brexit.

“We can still get most of the things that people want to buy but everything is more complicated. Before Brexit we could just order what we wanted and it all came on a pallet from Denmark just a few days later. Now it takes longer and it costs more because of import duty and clearance.”

Dorthe moved to Hull in 1977, attended the market for the first time the following year and has been a regular ever since. She is one of around 30 volunteers who support Charlotte Theill – manager of Danish Church and Nordic House and the only employee – in staging the event.

Charlotte said: “Since the first Danish Church was consecrated in Hull in 1871 it has become an integral part of the city. The original building was flattened in an air raid in 1941 so the community built our current home, which features some items rescued from the rubble. We’ll celebrate the 70^th anniversary of this building next year, but for now it’s all about the market.

“It was first held in 1966 and before Covid we attracted about 1,200 people over two days. We had to miss 2020 but the numbers are picking up now. Last year we got 700 on just one day and people were queueing down the street.

“This year we opened the upstairs area as well, we started an hour earlier and we welcomed an even bigger crowd of nearly 800 people!

“They keep coming back to buy Danish produce – chocolates, herring, pickles, gifts, decorations and other items that you just can’t fine elsewhere in the local area. There has always been high demand for Scandinavian design.

“People also come for the occasion – the hygge, a Danish word which generally means cosy comfort and hospitality – and to enjoy the pop-up café serving open sandwiches of salmon, prawns and herring.

“It was another huge success and before we know it we’ll be working on plans for the 2024 market and for other activities as we build up our Danish Church and Nordic House events calendar.”

Pictured are some of the crowds at this year’s Scandinavian Christmas Market.