Traders left thousands of pounds out of pocket when one of Kent’s biggest Christmas markets was cancelled are hoping some added extras will entice shoppers back this weekend.

The market in Rochester’s Castle Gardens and the Dickensian Christmas festival, both of which are an enormous boost to the town's economy and attended by thousands of visitors far and wide, were cancelled last weekend after strong winds were forecast as Storm Darragh hit the country.

But plans have been put in place this weekend to salvage some of the celebrations and help recoup some of the huge financial losses suffered by traders.

The cancellation left scores of shopkeepers, restaurateurs and publicans - who spent months planning, taking on extra staff and ordering more stock - massively out of pocket.

Tourists, ferried to the town in coach loads, were also disappointed that the usual fun-packed programme, including parades and carol concerts, had to be scrapped.

Medway Council’s events team, which made the decision after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning on Friday, have spent the week trying to put together an alternative package to attract the crowds back to the town this weekend.

It’s the final chance to visit the market, which includes a fun fair and Children’s Christmas Village, and opening hours have been extended to make the most of it.

Dickensian characters in traditional Victorian dress are being encouraged to put in an appearance while Morris dancers and street artists will be performing along the High Street.

Traders, who will not be getting a refund for their stalls, have been invited to return free of charge.

Another incentive is free bus travel and park-and-ride services from the University of Greenwich campus at Chatham Maritime into Rochester.

Council leader Vince Maple said: “It was the right decision and we thank our officers and the events team for working so hard to get this together.

“The market will be open longer at no extra charge and there will be a sprinkle of Dickens.”

But Sanjay Raval, a long-standing businessman who runs the City Wall Wine Bar, hit out at the council for “suggesting the High Street was closed” last weekend.

He said: “It was disastrous. I can understand why they did it because of the weather, but it made it look as though the whole of Rochester was a no-go zone, which of course it wasn’t.

“I’m about £10,000 down on takings. I took on extra staff and bought in more food that I’m now trying to get rid of.”

He added: “It’s all very well offering free stands, but if you are selling mulled wine there’s not enough time to get a licence.”

The authority has worked with Rochester City Centre Forum to pull arrangements together at short notice.

Forum chairwoman Clare Tierney said: “It was a challenge and we have risen to it. We are happy with the support and full collaboration with the council.”

Of last weekend’s cancellation, she said: “Given the timeframe, it was difficult to get the message across. It wasn’t 100% successful but well communicated enough.

“We made it clear we were open for business,” said Ms Tierney, who runs Smoqe restaurant.

She said she was about £5,000 out of pocket and would not be getting her pitch fees back for her stand at Boley Hill.

She said: “You cannot prevent a yellow weather warning. You have to take that seriously and safety comes first.”

She urged people to head to the town this weekend to support traders. She said: “If you want to see businesses here in Rochester again this year, now is the time to support them to soften the blow.”

Jody Carrington, owner of Poco Loco bar in Chatham High Street, was “gutted” the annual Dickens’ festival was cancelled because of the weather but understood why the council had made the decision.

She said: “There are some who say it could have been called earlier but whenever it’s called it’s going to be unpopular.

“We put in a lot of time getting it together but at the end of the day you are always at the beck and call of the weather.

“It was the right thing to do. It would have been dangerous.”

Ms Carrington has declined an offer to take up a stand this weekend free of charge.

She said: “It was a Herculean effort to get it organised [previously], so we have said no.”

After the authority made the announcement to cancel events, Ms Carrington posted an appeal on social media asking people still support her business in the Intra stretch of Chatham, which runs between the railway bridge over Rochester High Street just after the Nags Head pub and to the east by the Chatham boundary sign outside the John Hawkins Hospital.

She said: “It was heartwarming. People came in for lunch, ordered takeaway and popped in for a hot chocolate.

“We have lost about £2,000 and it has been a race against time to get rid of food before it goes out of date.

“We had freshly prepared guacamole and chorizo, which won’t keep.”

Staff from Poco Loco will also be handing out free mulled wine on Monday evening outside the Gillingham Street Angels Emporium. Nick Allen, aka Nick the Piano, will be playing there.

A council spokesman, issuing the statement last week on social media cancelling the market and festival, said: “We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is necessary to ensure the safety of our visitors and everyone involved with either the market, Christmas village or festival.

“Rochester remains a magical place to visit and the wonderful selection of shops, restaurants, bars and pubs, as well as Eastgate House and The Guildhall Museum, will be open as usual along Rochester’s historic High Street.”

The Christmas market is open today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) between 10am and 10pm and on Sunday between 10am and 6pm.

The Artisan Market is also open between 10am and 8pm on Saturday and between 10am and 5pm on Sunday in the King’s Head car park.

The Farmers’ Market is on Sunday between 9am and 1pm in the Blue Boar Car Park.