Southwell's annual lantern parade will be held through people's windows this year due to coronavirus

The annual lantern parade through Southwell will be replaced this year by lanterns in people’s windows.

The lantern parade normally sees a procession of willow lanterns carried though the town from the Southwell Minster to the Minster School, ending with festive music and refreshments.

That cannot go ahead this year because of coronavirus restrictions.

Instead, organisers Southwell Town Council are encouraging townsfolk to make lanterns as usual, but display them at home instead.

The lanterns have a theme, and this year it is Edward Lear’s poem The Owl And The Pussy-Cat.

The town council would like people to include elements of the poem ­— including an owl, a cat, a pea-green boat, a £5 note, a piggy, a ring, a turkey and a spoon ­— in their window displays, and make them as festive as possible.

The lanterns, lit up by fairy lights, should be ready to display from Friday, December 4.

They will be displayed until December 14.

To help people get started, the council is selling lantern kits, including materials and instructions.

There is a simple kit, suitable for beginners, for £5, and a kit for those who have made them before, with un-prepared materials to create a free-form lantern, for £10.

People can also choose to make their own, free, bottle lantern, using instructions on the council’s website.

Contact the council on 01636 816103 or info@visit southwell.com for more information