HUNDREDS turned out for the annual Christmas extravaganza in Barnards Green.

Visitors enjoyed magic acts, a Santa's grotto and even a couple of 'unicorn' horses trotting around the event in Barnards Green, Malvern, on Saturday.

Local traders also set up funfair games and other activities to raise money for Malvern's Sunshine Children's Centre.

Jane Knowles, owner of Just So and chair of the Barnards Green Traders Association, said: "I think today's event shows people that a vibrant high street comes from independent shops.

"All the main organisers of the extravaganza are independent businesses.

"All individual shops also run their own competitions throughout December and we do a Barnards Green quiz.

"It's only at the end of December when people bring their pots in that we find out what we have raised."

Ms Knowles said the association chose to support Sunshine Children's Centre because it helps local families.

The centre runs the Saturdads Club, where fathers and male carers have fun with their children every month at Dyson Perrins Leisure Centre.

Ms Knowles said the free club helps disadvantaged local families.

Some traders, including postmistress Jenny Cain, the head of Barnards Green Post Office, set up funfair games to raise money for the centre.

Jane Marshall, community development worker at Action for Children, the charity behind Sunshine Children's Centre, said the Saturdads Club catered for fathers who might feel excluded from other play groups.

She added: "Often dads don't get an opportunity to do things with their children in that way."

Firefighters were also at the event engaging with the public and a fire engine was parked outside the post office.

Malvern Watch Commander David Grundy said: "It's been good, we have got all the [fire engine] lockers open for people to look at our kit. It's a show-and-tell."

Town crier Mike Fray, aged 67, also attended the extravaganza and handed out programmes to visitors.

He added: "I've been going around telling people what's going on.

"There's been Father Christmas, Magic Russ, the fire engine, the tombola, cider tasting, and facepainting.

"The event makes people appreciate what Barnards Green has got. It's for the small shops rather than the supermarkets."