PORTISHEAD will step back in time for the town’s annual Victorian evening on December 16.

The smell of roasted chestnuts will waft into the High Street as from 6.30pm the town centre is transformed into an old fashioned street market with more than 40 stalls, sideshows and entertainers.

Both stall holders and visitors are encouraged to dress up in Victorian costume for the annual event, which is the main fundraiser for Portishead’s spectacular Christmas lights display.

BBC weather presenter Jemma Cooper will officially open the evening from the stage at Tudor Garage where entertainers will include the Pill Festival Band, fiddle group Highly Strung and Clevedon’s Lions Brass 4 Youth Band. Youth dancers Audacity will also be performing.

As well as promoting charitable causes, stalls will be selling Christmas produce, crafts and gifts.

Shops will remain open into the evening and although the major fairground rides have been taken away from the event in recent years, there will be rides for small children and an increase in sideshows to compliment the community groups’ stalls and local traders.

There are still spaces for a few more stalls, anyone wanting to book a stall can call Tracey Fowler on 01275 844868.