A VILLAGE community is banding together to ensure a Christmas tradition goes ahead this year despite the pandemic threatening to disrupt the plans.

Residents in Castle Hedingham are set to hold their living advent calendar project next month.

The event is becoming a tradition in the village and sees 24 homes, pubs and businesses decorate and illuminate their windows.

Each day in the run-up to Christmas a new window in the village is unveiled for the village to see.

However, organisers say they are having to do things a little bit differently this year.

The organisers had planned on the event being held once every two years, with the most recent rendition taking place last December.

However, due to the threat of a Covid Christmas, organisers thought the village might need something to help raise spirits.

Usually crowds gather for the revealing of each window but, due to Covid restrictions, this year’s project will be held virtually.

Organisers say a video of each reveal will be uploaded to their Castle Hedingham Living Advent Calendar Facebook page.

Starting on Tuesday, the final reveal will be an installation at the church grounds of St Nicholas Church on December 24.

A map which outlines the trail and features the locations of all the windows will be available in the village’s parish magazine and on their Facebook page.

Organiser Joy Drury said: “At the end of last year, we had decided to make this a biennial event, but Beverlee Foulkes, another organiser in the team, thought we needed to do something positive when there was a threat of a second wave.

“After a short survey the community wanted this festive event to run again to raised our spirits in such difficult times and give us something to combat the lockdown lull.

“We have had yet another year of great support and encouragement, I can’t wait to see what people will come up with this year.”