ARRANGEMENTS for this year's Ferryhill Christmas gala are well under way.

The gala will be held on Saturday, December 7, and will be based on last year's inaugural event which attracted a large turnout and was well supported by townsfolk.

St Luke's Church hall will be taken over by a craft fair, with 20 traders selling a variety of goods.

Proceeds will go to the Butterwick Hospice, which has organised the event. The fair will run from 10am to 6pm and further details are available from (01642) 624231.

Ferryhill Market Place will host a Christmas food market, running alongside children's fair rides and organ music.

The food market will run from 10am to 5pm and the contact is Alan Grey on (01740) 652157.

Local organisations and schools have been invited to take part in a procession from St Luke's Church to the town hall garden.

The procession, with the theme of Kings and Angels, will leave the church at 4pm and will be followed by carols at the town hall.

The action shifts to the gardens of the Manor House pub at 7pm, where the South West Durham Choristers will perform with Ferryhill Town Band.