PREPARATIONS are underway for a traditional Christmas Fayre in Halstead.

A live nativity featuring children playing their favourite characters and interacting with animals will take place next month.

The Annual Halstead Christmas Fayre is organised by the Halstead Town Team

Halstead Town Team chair, Jonathan Lidster, said: “This will be a fantastic family occasion where children have the opportunity to play whoever they would like to be from the quintessential Christmas story.

"It will really capture the spirit of the time of year.”

It is a day long celebration of Christmas which includes a market, charity stalls, activities and fames, food stalls, school choirs, dancers, and Father Christmas.

The day will end with the turning on of the Christmas lights in the Public Gardens, organised by the Halstead Town Council.

The Christmas Fayre will take place on Saturday 26th November in the High Street.

Children who would like to play a role are invited to attend an in-costume pre-fayre event, which is being held throughout the October half-term.

They will start from 10am on October 22 and will continue throughout the week.

The ‘Nativity’s Got Children’ event is being held at Halstead Library in conjunction with the Halstead Town Team.

Some children will win the chance to be in the live Nativity for an allocated 30 minutes.

Live animals will also feature in the show courtesy of Tiggy’s Barn in Greenstead Green.

All entrants to the pre-fayre event will receive a free voucher, which they can exchange on the day of the Fayre for a prize provided by Jim Davies from Halstead Museum.

A responsible adult will need to provide the library with contact details so they can be advised of their allocated time slot should their child win a chance to appear.

Follow the event at www.facebook.com/halsteadchristmasfair