THE Mayor of Winchester has got Christmas festivities under way in the city by opening the annual charity card shop at the Guildhall.

The stall sells a wide range of seasonal cards benefiting up to 50 charities which receive the profits from the sales.

Charities set to receive money include Christian Aid, Eating Disorders, The Samaritans, The RNLI, Naomi House and Cancer Research. Organisers of the stall say last year each charity earned almost £1,300 from the sales.

Opening the stall in the Guildhall's Courtyard Caf alongside Mayor Cecily Sutton were the Chairman of the Winchester Combined Charities Card Society, Lt Cdr Benn Goulding and the Treasurer of the Multiple Sclerosis Society in Winchester, Derek Fickling.

The stall will be open from now until December 18, with a special opening planned for Sunday, November 28 to coincide with the farmers' market.