A CAMPAIGN to bring festive cheer is making a welcome return.

Light Up Wylam was started by residents Sarah Grainger and Anna Allan in 2020.

It sees businesses and homes display festive decorations in a bid to win prizes and raise funds for charity Fareshare North East.

Fareshare aims to fight hunger and tackle food waste by redistributing food industry surplus, which would otherwise go to waste, to people who need it most in the region.

Organisers are hoping to build on the event's success by introducing more activities including: a village sign post quiz, a Christmas stocking competition and an 'adopt a tree' scheme, which will enable neighbours decorate a Christmas tree together. There is also opportunities to decorate a communal Christmas tree on Charlie's Corner in the village.

The entry programme is now on sale in Wylam shops and is either £5 or a donation to Fareshare. Three golden tickets have randomly been placed in programmes which will entitle the bearer to a prize donated by local businesses.

"We are hugely grateful to the generosity of the village and its businesses in helping what started out as a small idea to truly come to light", said Sarah and Anna.

Light up night will be on December 12 from 5pm with a big switch on of the Charlie's Corner tree followed by festive celebrations at the Ship Inn.

Santa will also visit the village on December 19.