A school in Yate is pleased that their annual Christmas Fayre can go ahead, albeit, virtually.

The new committee of the Friend’s of St. Mary’s School have announced the school's annual Christmas fayre will go ahead with a week long event on Facebook.

Newly elected chair Justin Blackett said:"As a new committee we know how popular the Christmas Fayre is, and it’s our biggest fundraiser each year.

"We also knew we couldn’t plan to do it in the traditional way because of the national restrictions in place, so we’ve taken it online.

"The friends were were keen to support the small businesses who have supported us in the past, so we are making it a free event for both ‘stall holders’ and for people to come along.

"We’ve been very fortunate that many of our small business stall holders have donated prizes to our raffle, which will be drawn live second Saturday evening.’

The Friend’s of St. Mary’s School organise a range of fundraising events including the annual Scarecrow Trail and St Mary’s 5K race, which also went virtual this year.

Justin added: "This year we acknowledge that fundraising is going to be more challenging, as it has been for all charities, so we are focusing on strengthening our community and developing a friendship network to support our parents, and by extension the children at the school. We hope to be able to run some events too of course, and are keeping an open mind as to how we can do that as the guidance changes."

The Fayre will run from Saturday, November 28 until Sunday, December 6 with the raffle being drawn live on Facebook on Saturday, December 5 at 6pm.

More information can be founds at facebook.com/stmarysfriendsyate