VOLUNTEERS are needed to lend a hand at the new-look Christchurch Christmas Festival.

The event, on Saturday, Novem-ber 29, will see a range of different attractions, including a Christmas market in the High Street from 10am until 7pm and music and entertainment in Saxon Square.

Santa and his reindeer will leave Peeks Partystore in Reid Street at 4pm and will process down Bargates to arrive in the High Street at 4.30pm.

Santa will then take his reindeer down to the Priory Church where the reindeer can be petted and children can hand in their Christmas wish letters.

The Christmas lights switch-on will take place in the High Street at the later time of 6pm.

Organisers have thanked spon-sors who are supporting Christ-church Christmas Festival, including Stewarts Garden Cen-tres, the Captains Club Hotel and Harbour Hotels.

Christchurch Borough Council is giving sponsorship to the newly-formed committee of volunteers while Christchurch Round Table is sponsoring the music and entertainment.

Kim Skinner, chairman of the Christmas Festival Committee, said: “We are really grateful to all the sponsors who have given their support to this year’s Festival.

“Without their assistance we wouldn’t have been able to arrange this great community event, which has proved so popular in the past.

“But we now need some people to come forward to don a high-viz jacket and volunteer to help us on the day.

“There are a number of jobs to be covered – from setting up and taking down of market stalls to helping with crowd control during the reindeer procession and lights switch-on.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer can contact Ann Simon at Kean Events on 07817 215 339 or email keanevents@yahoo.co.uk