We at the Advertiser this week volunteered with Andover Community Event's Santa Cruises, to help spread some festive cheer and raise money for the town's hospice.

Andover Community Events have been helping Santa and his elves on a tour around the town, with members of the Advertiser volunteering for the event on Tuesday, December 19.

We arrived around 5pm on Bridge Street, with Santa swiftly arriving with hats, and collection buckets ready to be filled.

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We got our walking boots on and set off on Bridge Street, with the route taking us around a number of the town's streets and housing estates, where children and parents were eagerly awaiting a sighting of Santa.

It was great fun as we started the route, greeting passers-by as we waved to families lining the streets, and many residents gleaming through their windows at the fantastic sleigh display provided by Santa.

The faces of parents and children alike were an absolute picture - safe to say the 'magic of Christmas' was evident. We pulled up at a few stops along the way where crowds had gathered and began welcoming anyone who wanted to come and have a chat and a photo with Santa.

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Seeing so many happy faces at the stops was fantastic, and Santa was in fantastic form, cracking jokes and spreading merriment across people of all ages. It was great fun and was an uplifting experience to help get in the Christmas spirit, with just a week to go before the big day.

It was a heartwarming activity to participate in, and it felt fantastic to help put a beaming smile on the faces of so many. There was lots of happiness and enjoyment had by all across the course of the evening, and we at the Advertiser left uplifted and thrilled to have been able to take part in the event.

Donations can be made to the fundraiser for Countess of Brecknock Hospice at justgiving.com.