FOR the third year running fundraisers from St Luke’s Hospice will be joining in the festivities at this year’s Billericay Christmas Fair.

The Dickensian themed event, to be held on Wednesday, is one of the biggest dates on the town’s cultural calendar.

The merry-making evening, which is expected to draw up to 8,000 people, is organised by the Billericay Rotary Club.

The aim is not only to raise funds for local good causes, but strengthen community links.

This year the event is being hailed as bigger and better than ever before with new illuminations, live music, spectacular Santa’s parade, art and crafts stalls and traditional carols.

For St Luke’s Hospice, which has seen a downturn in donations due to the credit crunch, it will be also be an important evening.

Marilyn DeBattista, head of fundraising at St Luke’s, based in Nethermayne, Basildon, said: ‘’Hospice fundraisers are delighted to be having an active involvement in this event.

“We are grateful to Billericay Rotary for inviting us to participate.

“The atmosphere at last year’s event was fantastic – it really brought some Christmas spirit into the town.

“Being able to be part of community events is very important to the hospice as well as having the opportunity to raise much needed funds.

“Our stalls will be selling some wonderful Christmas gift items at bargain prices.”

The fair will be on from 6pm to 9pm and the High Street will be closed to motorists for the duration.