KNITTED gingerbread men and santa hats have started flooding into Brighter Futures HQ as it gears up for a full calendar in the run up to Christmas.

Community-run concerts, rock painting competitions, a spooky Halloween fun run, and the annual Reindeer Run are some of those to look forward to.

The Radiotherapy Appeal Christmas Fair, on November 25 at the Grange Community centre, will also be selling the full range of seasonal knitted crafts.

“We get a lot of donations of handmade Christmas items that you can hang on trees," said Lisa Utting, fundraising officer for the appeal.

"Christmas puds and little santa hats that you can put treats inside to go on the dinner table.

“We’ll be selling all of the crafts that have been donated by our army of crafters between now and then.

“People just knock on the door and hand in items. We had a lady yesterday brought us in festive gingerbread men to hang on the tree.

“You would not believe it , I’m surrounded by knitted items."

The fair is on November 25 at the Grange Community Centre, which will have The Notables and the Marlborough Choir singing.

Other events firmly on the season calendar include the annual Spooktacular fun mile at Coate Water Park is taking place on October 28.

“We want people to get dressed up and really embrace Halloween," said Lisa.

"We’re also going to do a pumpkin carving competition and people get medals for their carvings.

The Reindeer run - which has a giant carrot chased back to the hospital from Coate Water to the Hospital - is expected to attract some 800 people.

“Lots of people dress up in all sorts of weird and wonderful things. It’s such a fun event, everyone just loves it," said Lisa,"we absolutely love the atmosphere."

Community events include a Gorse Hill rock painting competition, festive craft stalls, and a charity concert at Christ Church by the Rotary Club on October 6 from 6 to 9pm.

The appeal will also be doing a Christmas raffle in the run up to December 25, tickets will be released in the next few weeks.