'Twas the night before the community Christmas fair and freezing fog descended all day on Nailsea.

A small band of volunteers, churches, schools and businesses all banded together to put on the Friday evening event and the skate rink was open again on Saturday.

And everyone agreed it was one of the best ever nights in Nailsea with nearly 800 children and their family and friends in the lantern parade and performers on stage all night at Somerset Square.

Forty plus stalls lined the High Street all the way to Tesco which had arts and crafts on its front foyer.

Many stalls and cafes sold out of food and drink and everyone reported brisk business.

So a big thank you goes to all from stallholders to the shops who stayed open late.

Thank you also to that small group of stalwarts led by Deb Bear, Lynda Dicks, Clare Elswood, Clare Hunt, John Hunter, Jacqui Nelson, Rob Stowell and Alan Troman who were joined along the way by Tesco community champion Hayley Watson and Wendy Derrick, Sharon Colley and Julie Petford and especially those who came went beyond the call of duty like Geof Delmege, Joanne Hopkinson and Eleanor Bear.

There are so many people and organisations to thank but here is just a few of them:

• Holy Trinity church

• Nailsea Town Council

• North Somerset Council

• Go Mobile

• Pure Comms

• Ed Bickerstaffe, of Footlights

• Hunter Leahy estate agents

• The Blue Room

• Nailsea Chamber of Trade and Commerce

• Cadbury House hotel, spa and health club

• Tesco Nailsea

• Watirose Nailsea

• Crown Glass Shopping Centre

• Rotary Club of Nailsea & Backwell

• Publishing Today

• Lauren Poole

• Adroit Printers

• Gould Signs

• Lynne Fernandes

• Jason and Scott of Get Ya Skates On

• The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare and its panto princess Chloe Hawkins

• Bristol Hipodrome

• Wetherspoon The Glass Maker

• Ring O'Bells

• Nailsea library

• Backwell Camera Club

T​he first people on the skate rink were the children from Ravenswood School.

Assistant head teacher Katie Barnes said; "It was an amazing experience for all involved.

"A number of the students had never been on a skate rink before and were really scared, but with the support from staff and the additional props everyone was able to join in and have a great time.

"A week later and  a number of students are still talking about how much fun they had and how they wish they could have a go on it every day!

"We send a huge thank-you to Mark Hunter from Hunter Estate Agents for funding the event for us, and for the Nailsea Community Christmas Fair for providing us with the opportunity for so many students to experience ice skating.

"Thank-you so much from all of the staff and students who were able to take part in this amazing community event."

S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g from The Glass Maker at Crown Glass Place up through Colliers Walk into Somerset Square and along the High Street as far as Tesco supermarket there will be something for everyone from fantastic food to wonderful shopping, from fun activities to memorable moments at our fair.​

Click HERE to go to Nailsea Community Christmas Fair page will all th photos - which will be added to as they are received including those from Backwell Camera Club and Ravenswood School..

Front page photo by digital, marketing and website design agency - Square Bird Agency - based at 117B Station Road, Nailsea. Call 01275 792114 for more information.