A Christmas market featuring 50 log cabins is planned at Dudley’s Merry Hill Centre to attract thousands of festive shoppers.

Centre owners Westfield has put forward plans for the first seasonal market at the shopping mecca.

Log cabins selling gifts, crafts and food from around the world will set up outside the entrance to Debenhams, if permission is granted.

There would also be seasonal entertainment which is likely to include singing and dancing. Bosses say the market would run during the month of December.

Centre manager Emma Hindes said the Christmas market would display goods in “attractive and enticing surroundings” with entertainment to create a festive feel. “Merry Hill is hoping that planning permission will be granted in due course,” she said.

Traders welcomed the plans. Rob Grove who runs The Merry Cobbler Ltd, said: “I think the Christmas market is a fantastic idea.

“As far as I am concerned anything that attracts more people to the Merry Hill Centre is a good thing.

“I love Christmas and I think the general public loves Christmas although we moan about all the work involved and people want to be reminded of it.

“The market will bring a real festive feel to the centre and it will look beautiful.”

The scheme will need approval by Dudley council.

Shopper Vicky Simms said: “These sort of Christmas markets are very popular abroad and I think the market at Merry Hill will be just as popular.

“My only concern is whether the cabins will take up parking spaces as finding a space in the run up to Christmas is always very tricky.”