A VILLAGE near Winchester is stepping up its Christmas celebrations by putting on a mini pageant and torchlit procession.

Two-dozen youngsters – many from the village’s primary school – will act out nativity scenes and then join Kings Worthy residents for carol singing.

Sketches will be performed at Church Hall – which will be turned into Nazareth – before a torchlit procession along Fraser Road. Accompanied by musicians from Band of the Adjutant General Corps children will then march to the community centre, transformed into Bethlehem for the benefit of the pageant.

“We want to make it [the celebrations] more relevant and get away from the commercial image and try and get back to the original idea of Christmas,” said organiser Denis Welstead. “This is a community event and we’re trying to foster better community relations in Kings Worthy.”

Youngsters and residents will then sign Christmas carols on the green outside Tubbs Hall, before mulled wine and mince pies are served inside.

The fun begins at 6pm at Church Hall, Fraser Road, on Friday, December 11.