In the lead-up to the festive season and the Midsomer Norton Christmas Light Switch-on at the Christmas Fayre on Friday, 1st December, local shops and businesses will being playing host to a Christmas Trail.

Christmas is often a time of year that sees communities come together, an opportunity for family time and a time to revisit the Nativity story.

The Christmas Trail will lead you into the festive season, up until the Christmas Light Switch-On Event on December 1st, when there will be Community Carols and Nativity held by Churches Together (6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Midsomer Norton Methodist Church) followed by the lights switch-on and a Festive Market in the Hollies Garden.

It is also a chance to support our local businesses, explore our town, and meet new people.

We are often in shops at this time of the year buying gifts for the special people in our lives; we also often sing about a Shepherd at Christmas time who didn’t have very much – but who brought a sheep for Jesus as his gift, to show his love.

So, as you do your Christmas shopping, why not look out for these adorable knitted sheep!

Families are encouraged to explore the High Street, visit and support our local businesses looking for knitted sheep.

Each sheep (and there are 25) carries a name tag, and are hiding in 25 shops and organisations along the length of Midsomer Norton High Street, from P.E.O.P.L.E to Rosecrafts.

Answer sheets have gone out this week to all schools and are also available from Midsomer Norton Methodist Church Centre (open 9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. daily) and is open to all under-16s.

Participating businesses will be displaying the sign (see right, above) in their windows.

Just fill in the form and return to Midsomer Norton Methodist Church by Tuesday, 5th December to receive a prize. All entries will then be entered into a draw, with one winner receiving a Christmas gift.

The Christmas Trail will run from Friday, 10th November to Monday, 4th December. With thanks to the local Knit and Knatter Group, which runs every Monday, 1.30 p.m. at Midsomer Norton Methodist Church, for knitting these gorgeous creatures!