Midsomer Norton Town Council are working with volunteers from the Men’s Shed to create free ‘Make a Wooden Reindeer’ packs for local children this Christmas. After the successful introduction of last year’s Children’s Christmas Party and Cinema Night, the Council was keen to host these events again for the children and young people of the Town, along with what would have been the tenth year of the Senior’s Christmas Social.

However, in light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and Tier rules, Councillors decided that the events could not safely go ahead.

A spokesperson for the Town Council said: “We were disappointed about this and hope that our ‘Make a Wooden Reindeer’ packs go a little way to helping children in our community celebrate Christmas.

“Volunteers from the Men’s Shed are busy making our Wooden Reindeer packs for our Christmas giveaway. They offered advice about how the reindeer could be put together safely and created prototypes.

“The volunteers are creating the packs using their own facilities at home, as they have been unable to meet at the workshop at the Farm Shop in Farrington Gurney since March. They have also provided all of the wood.

“We are extremely grateful for their hard work and their advice. We can’t wait to get the packs out to the lucky recipients and see the finished reindeer!

“Our Christmas ‘Make a Wooden Reindeer’ packs will come with glittery pom poms and pipe cleaners for noses, tails and antlers. Each pack will contain wooden body parts (a body, head, neck and four legs). There’ll be a green ribbon to tie around your reindeer’s neck, some jingle bells to add to the ribbon or the antlers and instructions.

“The Town Council would like children to photograph their finished reindeers so they can be shared on our website, Facebook and Twitter pages.”

There will be a limited number of packs, depending on how many can be produced from wood available. To add your name to the list to win a Reindeer, email: [email protected] with your contact details. Names will be pulled out of a hat on Monday, 14th December and winners contacted the same day. Good luck!