BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester's Wincy Willis is coming into Ross-on-Wye on Saturday, 26th November to switch on the town's lovely Christmas Lights. Wincy will be helped with task by two schoolchildren at 5:30pm but as well as the switch on there will be lots more going on throughout the afternoon.

From 3.30 until 4.30pm, the tuneful Salvation Army Band will be keeping shoppers entertained in Broad Street, then from 4.45 until 5.15pm, the melodic Ross Town Band will be performing under The Market House canopy. From 5pm, the top of Broad Street will be closed to traffic as, at 5.15pm there will be a procession of Scouts making their way by torchlight from The Crofts to The Market House.

The first of ARTs four Prize Draws will also be taking place during the afternoon. Many ART members are participating in the draws, giving shoppers the chance to win £250 pounds worth of ART vouchers on each of the four Saturdays leading up to Christmas. The participating shop keepers will have a poster displayed, which states how much you would need to spend in order to be rewarded with a free entry into the draw. Some of the independent shops wll be saying open later including Ross Old Books , Pedlars Nest, Tudor Sweets and Field Fayre. These shops, along with Coleman's and Ross Information Service will also be opening on Sunday, 4th December for ART's Christmas Shopping Day, a great day where residents and visitors will have the opportunity to shop for some great Christmas gifts.

Each Thursday, leading up to Christmas, the following shops wil be staying open later than usual. Ross Old Books , Essential Sewing Services , Field Fayre , Tudor Sweets , Pots and Pieces and Truffles.

After the light switch on, it will be well worth hanging around for a while as from 5:30 until 6:15pm, 'Splinter,' an excellent group of musicians from the John Kyrle High School will be performing some great modern numbers with a Christmas twist. This band were very well received at the Ross Rocks concert in June. If you would like to see some of their performance, which was filmed and produced by Alan's daughter Sarah, please click here. To see some beautiful scenes filmed by Alan Wood of how Ross looks during the festive period, please click here.

Cards for Good Causes is a wonderful, saesonal shop and each Christmas a great range of beautiful Christmas cards, gifts and gift wrap are available. Cards for Good Causes has always been very popular with Christmas shoppers as they can buy the cards which support their favourite charity, and around 35 different charities benefit from the sales.

The shop used to be hosted in Ross Heritage Centre but due to the Heritgae Service being merged with the Tourit Information Centre, this is no longer the case. however, Mary Sinclair Powell is now selling theses excellent cards from her shop, Ross Information Service, in Broad Street. The cards will be available until Saturday, 10th December, so why not go along and buy yours now? Mary will be delighted to see you..

The Thomas Blake Memorial Gardens in Wye Street had, until recently, been looking very neglected but after Ross-in-Bloom and the Jubilee team set to work, the gardens soon began to look rather beautiful again. Enlisting the help of Wye Street residents and the Man of Ross Inn, a big clean up campaign began as part of the Jubilee project.

During their visit to the town earlier this year, the Heart of England in Bloom judges were very impressed with the improvements made to the garden, which begins near to the top of Wye Street, meandering down towards the Hope & Anchor Inn.

During recent months a collection pot raising money for the project has stood on the bar in the Man of Ross and regulars to the pub gave generously. On Tuesday, 15th November, this money and the proceeds of a fantastic draw were counted up and over £500 had been raised. Some of the funds raised so far will be used to improve the railings at the top of the garden, where visitors can sit to rest and take in the beautiful view of the River Wye and the surrounding area.

There were many brilliant prizes won with a wonderful hamper, lots of bottles of wine, vouchers and many other great prizes. Well done to all concerned.