MORE than 150 children came to meet the elves in Okehampton on Sunday at the first-ever Elf Outpost.

Children were invited to visit them in their workshop in the Red Lion Yard, and were invited to write a letter to them about what they enjoy.

The event, organised by new charity One Okehampton, was completely free, and coincided with the first of four festive markets in the town.

Organiser Rebecca Green said: ‘We had about 150 children come through the Elf Outpost, which was nuts! And out of those, 82 of them wrote letters. We were just gobsmacked. For a little town in the middle of nowhere that is pretty good going.

‘What was really really lovely was that it was something the children were doing with their parents and grandparents all together, and they were all smiling.’

Each child received a present of an elf hat, pencil and stickers, and everyone who writes to the elves will receive a reply.

The Elf Outpost coincided with a festive market in the Red Lion Yard, the Charter Hall, the Parish Hall and Market Street.

It was officially opened by Mayor of Okehampton Jan Goffey and Okehampton Times’ general manager Lianne Hunt.

‘All the stallholders did very well and the public loved it because they didn’t need to go to Exeter, they had something really awesome on their doorstep,’ said Rebecca.

‘Ninety per cent of the stallholders were from Okehampton and the Hamlets. There was everything from the homemade dog treats to jewellery, toys and Christmas decorations. We had 11 charity stalls too.’

The next festive market will be held in Okehampton on 26 November from 10am-2.30pm.

Children are invited to keep a lookout for the elves over the coming weeks, and take a selfie with them to post on Facebook before December 10, with the chance to win a book. Find out more at www.facebook.com/OkeElves

Pictures by James Bird - see this week’s Times for more pictures.