ORGANISERS of Devizes Christmas Tree Festival and candlelit bazaar want to raise £10,000 for children's charities when St John's Church is transformed into a glittering wonderland next Friday (Dec 2).

Fundraising group Omnes Ad Unum hope hundreds of people will turn out between 1pm and 7pm so it can help Devizes Opportunity Centre, Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, Canon’s House, Bradbury Manor, Wiltshire Young Carers, and Rowdeford Charitable Trust.

Mike Sanders from the group said: "We learnt so much from last year's event. The support from the community and local businesses this year has been incredible.

"We have 39 schools, charities and other organisations who will be decorating trees and each one has been sponsored."

He has also been overwhelmed by the donations for a prize draw which the group hopes will be one of the main fundraisers for the event. He said: "Everyone has been wonderfully generous and we have some fantastic prizes."

Supporters will be at Morrisons supermarket tomorrow and Saturday to sell tickets for the draw which has more than 40 prizes with a total value of more than £3,000.

These include a Morrisons trolley dash and a top of the range mixer with attachments valued at more than £700. £100 in cash is also on offer. Tickets and programmes, priced at £1, are also on sale at Devizes Books and Wiltshire Museum.

Fellow organiser Marjie Pook is delighted with the standard of the stalls that have been attracted to the bazaar and by the enthusiasm of organisations taking part in the Christmas Tree festival.

She said: "We have got some really wonderful stalls taking part with high quality products that will make excellent presents. They have come up with some really interesting and unusual themes for their trees including a Lolly Stick Christmas and Penguins In The Snow."

Among those taking part will be Devizes Opportunity Centre which will also benefit from some of the cash raised. It has chosen Santas and reindeers for its entry.

This year a mystery special guest will judge the entries in junior, adult, best theme and most artistic categories. A total of £400 will be distributed to the winners.

The tree festival will run from December 2 until Twelfth NIght on January 6. Winners for the tree festival draw and lucky programme will be announced in the Gazette.