CHRISTMAS is drawing near and children across the borough are eagerly awaiting a visit from Santa.
Observer reporter Jenny King dropped into Benjamin Hargreaves Primary School in Accrington to see what some of the pupils are hoping to find in their Christmas stockings this year and what they look forward to most about the festive season.
Georgia Lawson, eight, and six-year-old Mason Wallace are both dreaming of a white Christmas so they can build a snowman and play out in the snow.
Soccer fan Poppy Jones, seven, is hoping Father Christmas will bring her a Blackburn Rovers kit so she can support her favourite team. Her favourite part of Christmas is giving and receiving presents and she enjoys making Christmas cards at school.
Five-year-old Jake Gregg's parents can look forward to an easy Christmas, as he loves helping to put up the decorations. However, it may not be the quietest Christmas for his family if he gets the present he's hoping for … a drum set.
Another little helper is Victoria Maden, six, who enjoys decorating the Christmas tree.
A Teddy and a Barbie doll are on five-year-old Ella Aymen's Christmas list, but she has another reason for wanting to open her presents. "I like getting lots of shiny, different-coloured wrapping paper," she says.
For many of the children, Christmas dinner is a tradition they eagerly look forward to each year.
"My favourite part of Christmas is helping my mum make the Christmas dinner," says nine-year-old Charlotte Whittaker.
Lance Muir, eight, who is hoping to get a walkie-talkie headset to talk and play on with his brother, is looking forward to going out for Christmas dinner, as he likes turkey and mince pies.
But through the excitement of getting a visit from Santa and opening all their presents, some children still remember the true meaning of Christmas.
"Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus," says Sam Whelan, eight, who is hoping to get a transformer for his main present.
Adam Bray, 11, who wants a DVD player, says that at Christmas he likes to celebrate the birth of Jesus and have a good time. Seven-year-old Zack Warner, who likes putting the Christmas tree up, agrees that Christmas is about the birth of Christ.
In this day and age, where the focus is increasingly on giving and receiving presents, it is good to find that all Raigan Prickett, 10, wants for Christmas - well, apart from a stereo system - is to spend time with her family.
