TOP chefs are cooking up some mouth-watering festive dishes at this month's Great Yarmouth Christmas Fair.Culinary experts will be providing the perfect recipe for everyone wanting to eat, drink and be merry throughout the fair from November 28 to 30.

TOP chefs are cooking up some mouth-watering festive dishes at this month's Great Yarmouth Christmas Fair.

Culinary experts will be providing the perfect recipe for everyone wanting to eat, drink and be merry throughout the fair from November 28 to 30.

The Priory Centre will play host to cookery demonstrations by top local chefs including Richard Hughes, owner of Yarmouth's Anna Sewell restaurant.

One of Britain's few surviving Benedictine monasteries; The Priory will also be hosting Santa's Grotto and the Blackfriars Brewery bar.

Among those joining Richard will be Simon Wainwright, head chef at Yarmouth's Imperial Hotel, and Anna Sewell head chef Julia Herrington.

The fair will be officially opened by the mayor Terry Easter and TV actress Lisa Goddard.

Contemporary and traditional crafts, gift and food stalls and festive entertainment will be in St Nicholas' Church and heated marquees on the Market Place throughout the three days of the fair.

For many years Yarmouth has welcomed a group of Norwegian crafts people to the fair and this 10th anniversary year is no exception, providing something special with a Scandinavian slant for shoppers.

The King John Charter celebrations are spilling over into Christmas, with stalls offering a historic, medieval inspired range of gifts and cuisine to tempt the taste buds.

The road train will run a park and ride service from the Beach Coach Station car park on all three days of the fair.

Market manager Duncan Mallet said: “The Christmas Fair is always very popular with shoppers who also enjoy the extra attractions and activities, including local schools performing their Christmas plays and shows and the visit by the reindeer is eagerly anticipated by the younger members of the family.”

St Nicholas' Church is the venue for performances by folk rock band, Stone Angel on November 28 and the stunning Lardal Kantori Norwegian Choir on November 29.

Conductor Kjell Hakested has issued a plea for local soloist Anna Ross to perform with the choir after singing with them last year.

Anna, who sang in Norwegian, is asked to contact town centre manager Jonathan Newman on 01493 745828.

Tickets for Stone Angel are available from the mayor's secretary, Laura Goodman, on 01493 846125 and the Norwegian Choir from the Town Centre Partnership on 01493 745828 or online at www.gytcp.co.uk.

Neighbours star Caitlin Stasey will be the star attraction at the switch on of Great Yarmouth's Christmas lights.

The Aussie TV soap actress is taking centre stage on Wednesday, November 26, to mark the start of the countdown to Christmas.

Caitlin, who is appearing as Snow White at Norwich Theatre Royal, will be joined on the night by Father Christmas and his reindeer.

The lights will be switched on at 6.30pm with the fireworks display lighting up the sky above the Market Place at 7.30pm.

An exciting programme of entertainment takes place every Wednesday evening from the Christmas lights switch-on to December 17 featuring Father Christmas, a reindeer parade and The Beach road show along with late night shopping.

A carol service is being held at the historic Fisherman's Hospital in the Market Place from 7pm on Wednesday, December 3.

Mince pies and mulled wine will be served and a raffle is being held with prizes donated from local businesses. A total of £20,000 needs to be raised for repairs to the 306-year-old building.