THE mayor of Basingstoke and Deane is extending a warm festive welcome for the annual Civic Carol Service.

Residents in the borough are invited to join mayor councillor Paul Frankum and mayoress councillor Jane Frankum for the service which is set to be held at St Michael’s Church.

The traditional family service held on Saturday, 9 December will feature a seasonal programme of Christmas music and will be led by the Reverend Arthur Botham, the Mayor’s chaplain.

With readings from representatives of local community groups, the free event will also feature performances from Basingstoke Festival of Choirs and Merton Junior School Choir.

Cllr Frankum said: “I hope that as many people as possible will come along and enjoy what promises to be a wonderful community event.

“All proceeds will be going to my charity and I am looking forward to an evening of seasonal goodwill.”

Christmas cards which were designed by pupils from Merton Junior School in Popley – and are currently on display in the window of a vacant store in the Malls - will be on show in the church during the service.

Students colourful seasonal cards were entered into a competition to find this year’s Mayor’s Christmas card.

The winning card was designed by 10-year-old Freya Melton, Her colourful creation of a Christmas tree decorated with goodwill banners will be sent out by the mayor and mayoress as the official Mayoral Christmas card for 2017.

There will be no charge to attend the carol service, however, donations towards programmes and refreshments are welcome and will go towards the Mayor’s Community Chest Charity Appeal, which is raising money for small charities across the borough.

Working with Basingstoke Voluntary Action (BVA), the community chest will award money via a grants panel.

The priority is to fund Basingstoke and Deane based voluntary projects that benefit the borough and organisations which often get forgotten or do not know where to go for funding.

For more information about the carol service visit basingstoke.gov.uk/mayor or call 01256 844844.