DECEMBER has finally arrived and the countdown to Christmas Day begins in earnest in Southend on Saturday.

Visitors to the latest Christmas-on-sea events will be forgiven for doing a double-take as a roller-skating Christmas Pudding rolls into town.

Organised by Southend Town Centre Partnership, the massive dessert will be skating around in honour of a unique Christmas Pudding Hunt, run by the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay.

Hunters are invited to follow clues that can be found in twelve High Street stores during the Festive Funday. Those who solve all twelve get the chance to enter a lucky dip.

Entry forms can be picked up from the Victoria or Royals Shopping Centres.

BBC Essex will be live at Victoria Circus for a spectacular show full of live musical performances and fun family entertainment from 11am to 5pm.

Ollie Winiberg, from BBC Introducing in Essex, will also be there giving advice to budding bands and singers.

The BBC Children in Need Pudsy the bear will be at large and available for photographs.

Christmas shoppers can relish the opportunity to buy unique gifts and delicious Christmas treats as the first Farmer's and Craft Market of the month begins.

This market is in town every Saturday in December, along with Friday, December 23.

John Lamb, Southend Council's deputy leader, said: "The Festive Fun Day will be an enchanting Christmas event that all the family will love.

"There is plenty on offer to attract everyone to Southend to revel in the Christmas spirit, so we hope as many as possible will come along to join in the jollity."

For more details see the Christmas-on-Sea Festive Guide available from various High Street stores or go to http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/