TRADERS of Barnards Green are getting ready to start off the festive season with their annual Christmas Extravaganza.

The event, which is described as a fun-packed morning for all ages, is taking place this year on Saturday, November 30, from 10am to 1pm.

As in previous years, the event will be raising money for a local charity, and this year, traders have chosen Community Action Malvern and District.

Jenny Cain of the Barnard’s Green Trading Association said: “We run this event each year, to say thank you to the local community for their support through out the year by shopping locally.”

Father Christmas will be arriving shortly after 10am on a double-decker London bus supplied by Morgan Motor Company.

He will then spend the morning inside his grotto at TP Travel taking requests from children.

During the morning there will be plenty of entertainments and activities, including making a Christmas lantern with MAKE, watching Magic Merlo, meeting Marshall and Skye from Paw Patrol, decorating a Christmas cookie at Cold Chef, entering the Name the Christmas Bear competition, having your face painted at Premier, trying your skills at crossbow and taking part in the treasure hunt starting at the post office at 1 Court Road.

There will also me music from local performers, a tombola, classic cars on display and much more.

A best-dressed elf and fairy competition, which is open to all ages, will be judged by Malvern’s mayor Neil Morton outside Barnards Green Fish and Chip shop at noon.

In the lead-up to the event, the association is running a paint-a-jar competition - simply decorate a jam jar and hand it in at the post office before the event.

The prize for the winner is a £20 gift voucher, and all jars will be displayed in shop windows throughout Barnards Green during December.

Ms Cain said: “In the last ten years, the events run by the Barnard’s Green Traders Association have raised over £17, 000 for local charities.

“Barnard’s Green offers visitors a unique shopping experience.

“Start getting ready for Christmas on November 30, and support your local town.”

Community Action campaigns to combat loneliness in the elderly through initiatives such as cinema club, lunch club and much more.