THE seventh annual Blandford Yuletide Festival returns next month.

The popular event attracts thousands of spectators and has become one of the biggest events in the town's annual calendar.

This year's spectacle takes place on Wednesday, December 13 with organisers promising the biggest event yet.

The fun starts at 5pm when stalls will open for business, traders will include the Anonymous Market and local producers. Then at 6pm, a lantern parade will take place led by Father Christmas who will be joined by The Blandford Stour Valley Band.

The parade will travel from Langton Road Car Park, along East Street, up Church Lane into The Plocks, down Salisbury Street, into the Market Place before coming to a halt in front of the church.

This will be followed by communal carol singing with music courtesy of The Blandford Stour Valley Brass Band.

A firework finale will then light up the skies at 8.30pm bringing the event to a close.