Belly-dancing troupe ready to join Santa for festive launch

With the weather taking a turn for the decidedly chilly, and with Halloween and Bonfire Night out of the way, thoughts are turning to the start of the festive season and an annual celebration in the heart of a county town next week.

For the past couple of years Church Stretton's Mayfair Community Centre has put on a Frost Fair – which for many residents in the town is now the official sign that they had better get on with their Christmas shopping if they haven't thought about it already.

The Frost Fair, which includes dancing, music, arts and crafts and festive stalls at the centre in Easthope Road, as well as spilling out onto the streets of the town, is now an established part of the Church Stretton calendar and this year will take place on November 19.

Sophie Eades, centre coordinator of the Mayfair charity, said: "We are planning a wonderful day for families, which will include a fancy dress competition for four to 12-year-olds, along the 'Frozen' theme.

"We will also have our own belly dancing troupe performing and Father Christmas will be making an appearance too.

"We will also have lots of local businesses selling their wares, including jewellery, photographic prints, crafts and books." The centre will be open from 10am to 4.30pm, and will also be offering activities for children which will include face painting, singing from the Strettons Community Choir and vintage steam vehicles on show.

Sophie said: "This will be our third Frost Fair, and last year over 500 people supported us, as we do stage this as a fundraiser for the charity."

The town's lights switch-on will take place the following week, at 5pm on November 26, with music, singing and dancing in the square before and after the switch-on, mulled wine, seasonal costumes and gifts for children, plus a Santa's grotto and a family Christingle service.

On November 25, the day before the lights switch-on, traders in the town will be staging their own "Black Friday"