RINGWOOD will be embracing the festive spirit this Christmas with three late night shopping evenings, a nativity scene and Santa in his gingerbread house.

Santa will flying into town with his reindeer on December 4, where he will meet up with a marching pipe band, and Mary and Joseph on donkeys. After the parade Santa will be in the market place before going to his Gingerbread House in the Furlong, where he will stay until Christmas Day.

Friday late night shopping and Sunday shopping in the Furlong will be held for three weekends from December 4.

This year a Christmas prize draw will be open to all Furlong shoppers, with the chance to win a luxury food hamper from Waitrose worth £200 or a handbag from Hobbs worth £170. There will be £100 vouchers from Fat Face, Crew Clothing, East, Kew, The Aga Shop and Furlong Furniture.

Visitors are invited to donate to this year’s Furlong charity, Woofability, which raises money to train dogs for the disabled.