CHRISTMAS goodies: The Friends of St Mark's Primary School are holding a Christmas fair on Tuesday, November 30, from 3.30pm to 6pm, at the school in Danebury Road, and everyone is welcome.

There will be plenty of chances to stock up for Christmas, with stalls including bring-and-buy, chocoholics, Phoenix Cards, Usbourne Books, Hair Magic and plenty of cakes.

FESTIVE fun: The children's Christmas fun day at the community centre is on Tuesday, December 21, from 10.30am until 4.30pm.

The morning will be taken up with seasonal crafts and activities before the children spend the afternoon watching Forest Forge Theatre Company's production of Arabian Nights.

The cost for the whole day, including the show, is £14 for members and £16 for non-members.

Forest Forge is a traditional Hatch Warren children's favourite, and tickets are also available just for the show at £5 each, with under-threes free.

For further details and to book a place, call 811262.

SCHOOL places: The deadline for applications for children to start school next September closed at noon last Friday.

LEISURE consultation: This takes place next Wednesday, for local residents who want to have a say on leisure provision in Hatch Warren and Beggarwood - particularly on the issue of whether the money, allocated by developers in the area for a sports barn here, should be used for the sports centre in town.

Officers from the council will be at the community centre on November 24, from 6.30pm until 9pm, to take your views.

MISSING bike: My son had his bike stolen from outside Sainsbury's on bonfire night at about 5pm.

So, if anyone knows someone who has recently acquired a BMX in suspicious circumstances, it might be ours!