ROMSEY Lantern Parade will take place next week as hundreds of lanterns will take to the streets.

This year, Romsey Lantern Parade committee members enabled residents to make a lantern at home and join the parade.

More than 200 lanterns and home-crafted lanterns will light up the streets on Friday, December 6.

The eighth lantern parade will have story telling as the theme, lanterns could include book characters and sets.

John Critchley, Romsey Lantern Parade committee member, said: "Romsey’s Lantern Parade has become one of the main events leading up to Christmas and we are now trying to make it even more inclusive by enabling people to make lanterns at home and join in.

"This will make it a real Romsey community experience."

People who wish to take part in the parade, they must be at Romsey Abbey for 5pm.

The parade will start at 5:30pm.

The route is the side of Abbey Place, through Church Street, down the Market Place, then through Bell Street, Dukes Mill, The Hundred then back to the Abbey.

John added: "If we have to cancel in the event of bad weather, particularly high winds or torrential rain, then contact my mobile number on 07831870120 to check.

"There was a lot of confusion last year because it rained up until an hour before the event.

"It is usually a great event and I am looking forward to it."

It will also go alongside a late night shopping evening where stores in Romsey Town Centre will be open later than usual.

John warned parking might be an issue on the day, and the Town Centre will be busier than usual.