The annual star ceremony will light up St Mary’s Church in Bungay this weekend ahead of the town’s Christmas street market.

The festivities will start in Bungay at 4.30pm on Saturday, December 2, with a short inter-denominational service, led by local clergy, in the churchyard. It will precede the lighting of the star on top of the church tower, and that will be followed by mince pies and mulled wine being served in the Bowerbank Room at the church. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The star is a beacon for the festive season, and can be seen on all the approaches to the town by travellers to Bungay.

At 4.45pm the town’s Christmas lights will be switched on. Once again the lights committee has extended the areas which are lit, and introduced more large stars at street junctions, with work taking place over the last two weeks to get the lights in place.

The following day, Sunday, December 3, hundreds of people are expected to flock to the town for the Christmas gifts street market.

Whether you are searching for that unique gift with your special someone in mind, a Christmas wreath for your front door, or simply some small stocking-fillers, there will be a variety of stalls with plenty on offer.

There will be lots to entertain the crowds too, with Father Christmas making an appearance on Earsham Street before settling into the Fisher Theatre where the children can pay him a visit. As usual, there will also be live music from Jon and Matt underneath The Buttercross and the Bungay Community Choir will be performing in the heart of the market, followed later by the ladies acapella group Bella Tonic.

There will also be the usual mix of food and drinks stalls, and many of Bungay’s shops will be open throughout the town.

The market will run from 9am to 4pm.