Festive Fun Day for all the family

During this action-packed extravaganza in Southend Town Centre from 11am till 5pm organised by Southend Town Centre Partnership, the massive dessert will be skating around in honour of a unique Christmas Pudding Hunt, run by the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay.  

Hunters are invited to follow clues that can be found in twelve High Street stores. Those who solve all twelve get the chance to enter a lucky dip.  

If you'd like to join in with the search, entry forms can be picked up from the Victoria or Royals Shopping Centres.

Among the other excitements on the day, BBC Essex will be live at Victoria Circus for a spectacular show full of live musical performances and fun family entertainment.

Hosted by Sadie Nine, it's set to be the perfect treat to sprinkle some festive magic.  

Ollie Winiberg, from BBC Introducing in Essex, will also be there for the benefit of budding bands and solo singers.  

You can ask him those burning questions, get some valuable music advice, or even give him one of your songs - he might love it enough to play on his show!

BBC Essex presenter Ian Wyatt will record your Christmas messages, and play the best on his weekend breakfast programme throughout December to broadcast Southend's Christmas spirit to the whole of Essex.  

The VIP visitors don't stop there! BBC Children in Needs' Pudsy the bear will be at large so you can meet and get photos with everyone's favourite friendly bear.  

Keep a keen eye out for performers roaming the streets and mingling amongst the crowds to entertain when you least expect it.  

Christmas shoppers can relish the opportunity to buy unique gifts and delicious Christmas treats as the first Farmer's and Craft Market of the month begins.

This market is in town every Saturday in December, along with Friday 23rd December. 

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Deputy Leader, Councillor John Lamb said: "The Festive Fun Day will be an enchanting Christmas event that all the family will love.

"There is plenty on offer to attract everyone to Southend to revel in the Christmas spirit, so we hope as many as possible will come along to join in the jollity."  

Dawn Jeakings, who chairs Southend Town Centre Partnership said: "We are very grateful indeed to all our sponsors for supporting this event.  

"They include Sou the nd-on-Sea Borough Council, The Royals Shopping Centre, The Victoria Shopping Centre, South Essex College, McDonalds, Elvanite, Dynamic Fireworks, The Cliffs Pavilion and The Park Inn Palace Hotel."  

Don't miss the opportunity to win a £1,000 High Street shopping experience with heaps of treats in store.

For more details see the Christmas-on-Sea Festive Guide available from various High Street stores or go to http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/