A string of events is planned in Upton as the Christmas season approaches.

Traders are aiming to hold a festive fair and window dressing competition and will once again be issuing raffle tickets to customers spending more than £10 in selected shops.

The ideas were discussed at a meeting of Upton Tourism and Trade Association on Monday night.

Shops such as Gifted, in High Street, will be giving redeemable vouchers to raffle winners.

Christmas trees will be decorated with lights at Upton Marina on Sunday (November 16). Trees will be erected in the brackets outside the town's shops the following Sunday.

The Christmas lights are currently being assembled and will be put up as they become available. They will be switched on from 4pm to 11pm every day.

A Christmas fair will be held at the Stableyard on Saturday, December 13, with a grotto where children can meet Father Christmas. There will also be stalls run by shop owners and a carol service at 4.30pm.

The tourism and trade association hopes Upton Youth Band will play, but this has yet to be confirmed.

A shop window dressing competition will be held, with prizes for the best-dressed window and the best-illuminated window. There are also plans for shop staff to dress in festive costume in the week before Christmas.

Bill Dovey, chairman of the tourism and trade association, said: "We hope it's going to be really good. If people want hassle-free shopping with lots of bargains, Upton is the place to come at Christmas."

n Upton Rotary Club has already announced plans to erect a 'tree of light' in the old churchyard at the Pepperpot.

A donation of £5 is requested for each light, in memory of a loved one. Money raised will go to the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK.

Donations can be given to any member Rotary Club member, Anemone Studio in High Street or The Flower Ring in Old Street.