Ross-on-Wye Christmas Carnival is a tradition which is at the very least, 50 years old. Santa has visited Ross every year, on the Saturday before Christmas with special guest helpers to give a present to every child who goes into town to see him.

This year, Santa's special guests were Peppa Pig and Iggle Piggle and the Market area was packed with people who had come to greet the party. Santa had met up with the Carnival Princess and attendants at the bottom of Brookend Street and was transported along Broad Street, led by a torchlight procession. Santa's helpers, the Christmas Carnival Committee Elves had spent the day before in a room at the Larruperz Centre packing presents for all the children of Ross.

Under normal circumstances, Santa would have stayed in town after meeting the children and gone to visit the sick in Ross Community Hospital. Unfortunately though, this year, people were a little too sick with the C.dif infection and so the hospital was closed to visitors - even Santa! We wish all patients with the illness a speedy recovery.

A few photographs of Santa's visit can be seen below but the 2009 event is covered in much more detail in the 'Ross-on-Wye: A Market Town Celebrating Christmas' film.