MICHAEL Gamble funeral directors is the latest business to support Stroud Goodwill.

Visitors are welcome to at the London Road office and sign a card for a memorial tree of remembrance.

Mulled wine, mince pies and Christmas biscuits will be served and visitors will have the chance to chat to Michael and his wife Clare about the business, which has been open for just six months.

The couple are also be taking part in the fourth St Lawrence’s Church Christmas tree festival.

Michael Gamble will hva e a tree on display, a beautiful, sparkling memorial Christmas tree with the opportunity for visitors to come and write a hanging card of remembrance for a loved one.

The festival opens with the switching on of the lights by BBC Points West presenter Richard Angwin on November 30 at 4pm and culminates with a special Christmas Tree Festival Songs of Praise on Sunday, December 7 at 4pm. Visitors will be asked to make a small donation towards the ongoing £600,000 Roof Appeal for the Church and Church Hall.

Most shops are opening until 9pm for Goodwill on Friday, December 5.

And there will be plenty available for youngsters to do too. Near Burger Star, The Decimal skate team will be offering free skate boarding tuition, whilst in Fawkes place car park, the Rinky Dink Cycle Powered Sound System will need lots of leg power to generate energy for their music.

Just turn up and cycle your way to a great evening.

Also in Fawkes Place, for just 50p, kids can have a go on the mobile Climbing Wall from Gloucester’s famous Warehouse; and a fire show by local youngsters will be accompanied by African style drummers from nearby Nailsworth. Graffiti artist Rick Brookes, responsible for the outstanding murals near Milano’s café and in the Dr Newton’s Way underpass, will be creating a temporary graffiti wall especially for the Goodwill event in Fawkes Place, which will also include a soft drinks bar and Official Goodwill Glow Sticks Vendor.

Father Christmas and two children from Cotswold Players Secret Garden cast will switch on the lights outside the Sub Rooms at 6pm. Performances throughout the evening on the forecourt will include the Rosary Catholic School Choir, Hot Steppers Dance School, Ebley Chapel Choir, Spaniel in the Works Theatre Company and Captain Spanner. Meanwhile, Gloucestershire Morris Mummers, StroudSong, Circle of Song, Ben and Roo, Brimscombe School Choir, The Café Singers and many other musicians and performers will be entertaining crowds at various busking spots around town, from the top of the High Street to Merrywalks shopping centre.

The Baptist Church is John Street will be opening to serve mince pies, tea, coffee and squash, whilst carol singers will entertain on the Baptist Church forecourt throughout the evening. Up the road, Angel Vintage will have a stall outside their shop, which will be open for vintage fashion and crystals. Various community groups are taking stalls around town, and Made in Stroud’s Traditional Christmas market in the Cornhill, is almost full.

The Shambles indoor and outdoor markets and Sub Rooms Christmas Indulgence Fair are now full, so there will be an amazing range of Christmas gifts on offer that evening.

For up-to-the-minute information, visit www.fresh-n-local.co.uk/goodwill