A Christmas fair promises to be a real hoot as Santa will be bringing owls with him.

The annual event is being held at Gorleston Library on Saturday from 10am until 3pm.

The birds from the Fritton Owl Sanctuary are the star attraction, along with Father Christmas himself at the grotto from 11am until 2pm.

This will be the third year the seasonal event arranged by the Friends of the Library has been held but this time all the money raised is going towards the scheme to bring back the former Library chiming clock to the High Street.

Friends chairman Sheila Russell says: “The idea has really gathered pace since we began this project by viewing the clock in the summer and realising what a beautifully preserved piece of local history it really is.

“We were also thrilled when Patrick Duffy, the owner of the Palace, made his offer to become the custodian and offer the clock a new home in the High Street. So many people are keen to see this happen and both the borough and county councils have been very supportive too.”

The fair will be opened at 10am by borough councillors and Library Friends Marlene Fairhead and Barbara Wright.

They are supporting the plan to have the clock, which was part of the former Carnegie Library built in the early 1990s, installed on the outside of the newly restored Palace Cinema.

The clock was taken down in the mid 1970s when the building was demolished to make way for the present library and since then has been stored by the borough council.

The Gorleston On Sea Heritage (GOSH) group, will have a display of pictures about the High Street and the clock to remind people what it looks like.

There will also be a full programme of attractions and entertainment including the visit of the Owl Sanctuary which was so popular last year; the St Mary’s School Choir at 10.30am, Yarmouth Minster Handbell Ringers at noon, the Fay Bedford Dance School at 1.30pm and the Magdalen Way Methodist Church Statement Choir at 2.30pm to round off the day.

Father Christmas will be in attendance in his grotto at 11am and 2pm and refreshments will be on sale throughout the day.

The Gorleston Library Christmas Fair runs from 10am until 3pm on Saturday.