TWO LANTERN parades organised by Ryde Art Works and other community groups are set to light up the winter streets and mark the winter season in Ryde and Sandown.

Ryde Art Works and the town's community forum will be setting the streets of Ryde alight on Saturday, November 30 with a spectacular candlelit parade in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

The "Lights of Love" parade will mark the start of the Christmas season in Ryde. Local carnival artists have been working with 14 school and community groups in preparation for the parade and it is anticipated more than 400 lanterns will take part.

The parade begins at 5.45pm from Dover Park Primary School where it will then head towards Star Street and the Precinct. It will then move down the High Street and will finish on the Western Gardens at about 6.30pm.

The Vectis Brass Band will be playing from 6pm on the Western Gardens for those awaiting the arrival of the parade and will also be joining the magical, candlelit carol service that follows at 6.30pm.

The service will take place around the Christmas tree and will be taken by the Reverend Derek Hoe and the United Churches of Ryde Choir.

There will be a further lantern parade in Sandown on December 14 from the Old Town Hall to the new millennium bandstand. This parade is being co-ordinated by Ryde Art Works in conjunction with the Sandown Carnival Association with funding from the Adult and Community Learning Fund.

The workshops will be held at Sandown Y & CC (Old Town Hall), Grafton Street from 6pm to 8pm on Friday 6 and December 13.