It's going to be all white on the night in Abingdon during the Christmas festivities.

Heavy snowfall has been forecast in the town on November 27 when the Abingdon Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Christmas Extravaganza in the town centre.

One of the innovative ideas that organisers are planning is a snow machine to leave Abingdon town centre covered in white.

They are also looking at ambitious plans to link up with Abingdon's twin towns via a satellite link in the Market Place.

They hope to erect a giant screen in the centre of the town and link up to their continental cousins in Germany, Italy and France.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to the town centre to take advantage of late-night Christmas shopping.

The extravaganza will this year adopt a Big Top theme, with the chamber also hoping to attract a circus animal and clowns to join the fun.

The chamber's extravaganza committee is currently discussing the practicalities of several possibilities.

Former chamber president, John Sheppard, who started the annual extravaganza, said: "There are two or three things under discussion to try to ensure the event is the biggest and best we have done yet."

He added that the snow machine was just one.

"We are also looking at whether we can form satellite links with the twin towns via a big screen in the Market Place.

"We also hope to persuade the Chipperfield Circus to come down with an animal, possibly an elephant."

All the main shops in the town will stay open late and many of the staff involved are expected to dress in theme costume for the evening.

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