CHRISTMAS Cameo will be back at St John’s Church, in Itchen Abbas, for a short service and friendly service for over 65s. Events start at midday on Tuesday, December 12 and Tuesday, January 16.

ITCHEN Valley has announced its Christmas services. On Sunday, December 10 there will be a Christingle at St John’s in Itchen Abbas at 4pm.

On Sunday, December 17 there will be family carols and costumes at St John’s at 10am and a traditional carol service at St Swithun’s Church in Martyr Worthy at 6pm.

On Tuesday, December 19 there will be carol singing at St Swithun’s Church at 5pm and at The Plough, in Itchen Abbas, at 6.30pm.

On Thursday, December 21 Carols by the Crib will be at St Mary’s Church in Easton from 4.30pm.

On Christmas Eve there will be a crib service at St Mary’s Church at 4pm and the midnight communion from 11pm at St Swithun’s Church. St John’s will also be hosting a family communion on Christmas day at 10am.

ST Catherine’s Church in Littleton is running a toddler group Christmas service and party on Monday, December 11 from 10-11.30am. The church will also be leading a carol service at 6pm on Sunday, December 17, a crib service on Christmas Eve at 4pm and a Holy Communion on Christmas day morning at 10am.

THE refurbishment of the Chestnut Horse, in Easton, has nearly finished ready for the pub’s January opening.

Joe Hibberd has been appointed as the new head and the team is busy preparing menus including small plates, pub classics, sharing boards and seasonal dishes.

THE Easton Players is bringing Aladdin to the stage for this year’s pantomime. The show, at Easton Village Hall, is on December 13 to 16, with performances at 7.30pm during the week and at 2pm and 6pm on Saturday, December 16.

SPARSHOLT Christmas Market will be open from 10am to 2pm on Sunday, December 10 with festive food and drink and unique gifts.

THE Plough Inn, in Sparsholt, will be hosting an evening of Christmas carols from 6pm on Saturday, December 23.

THE Worthies Christmas Fair will taking over the Worthies Sport and Social Club Sunday, December 10 from 11am to 3pm. There will be live music, home made goods, toys, free entry and free parking.

THE Smile Education Hub is encouraging people to make or donate woolly hats to help the homeless this winter.

Hats can be dropped off at the collection point at The King Charles Pub in Kings Worthy by Monday, December 18.

RESIDENTS at Flowerdown Care Home, in Littleton, enjoyed marking the start of the Hindu festival of Diwali, popularly known as the ‘festival of lights’.

Residents helped with making colourful patterned rangoli and lighting ‘diyas’, small oil lamps which are lit to signify the triumph of good over evil. Diwali honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, the lamps help Lakshmi find her way into people’s homes.

Head chef Muthu, prepared traditional Indian dishes including a range of warming curries, spicy samosas, crispy bhajis and papadums with lime pickle and chutneys followed by traditional Indian sweets such as laddoo and barfi for the residents to enjoy.