THE opportunity to get into the festive mood and spirit will arise early next month in an ancient Somerset village.

Just a couple of hours away from Worcestershire and the rest of the West Midlands lies the remarkably well-preserved medieval village of Dunster in West Somerset.

On Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6, it will host the atmospheric Dunster by Candlelight where colourful stilt-walkers will lead an exuberant procession through the village’s cobbled streets. They will be tasked with the role of lighting all the lanterns, which take the place of electric street lamps for two evenings every year.

In what is now regarded as a charming start to the seasonal festivities, Dunster's ancient streets will be thronged with carol singers, choirs, and street entertainers, as well as food and craft stalls.

All the local independent shops stay open late providing ideal opportunities for quirky Christmas shopping.

There are plenty of welcoming bars, cafes and restaurants too should the weather be chilly.

Entrance is free and all profits from the sale of the festival programme go to the local St Margaret's Hospice (www.somerset-hospice.org.uk).

No cars are allowed in the village during these two evenings so visitors would be well advised to hop on one of the special buses (£3 per person) which leave from neighbouring Minehead, Watchet, Wheddon Cross and Porlock.

Visitors to the festival often stay awhile to explore the stunning local area.

Not far away is the pretty seaside town of Minehead - home to the West Somerset Railway, England's longest heritage line - as well as being the gateway to Exmoor National Park which boasts 267 square miles of unique moorland, woodland, valleys and high cliffs which plunge via the rocky coastline into the sea.

Anyone wishing to stay locally for the two night event, or for a little longer, can stay at either The Beach Hotel in Minehead (www.thebeachhotel.org 01643 704765 for details) or Marston Lodge (www.marstonnlodgehotel.co.uk 01643 702510), or they can check out other local B and B’s on the Somerset tourist information website.