MEERKATS, snakes and raccoons will be in town this Christmas as a mobile zoo comes to visit.

Egremont’s Christmas Wonderland will offer children the opportunity to get up close to an array of animals.

This year’s special attraction, from Meerkats and More, will be held in the Market Hall from 2pm on Sunday, November 29.

Among the other entertainment is a fireworks finale from the Castle, bigger and better market stalls and the annual festive lights.

Turning on the lights this year is Elvina Quayle, a retired florist and long-standing member of the community.

Geraldine Pritchard, who helps organise the event, said: “Our special attraction this year will be a very different animal zoo where the children can look at and touch the animals, so look out for some cuddly, funny and some, perhaps a little, scary creatures.”

She added: “We ask that the good people of Egremont and beyond please try to come down and support this community event.

“We spend all year organising it so that everyone can have a great day out and one in which you get to see lots of things you may otherwise have to travel further afield to see.”

Also on show will be a skunk, a giant rabbit, millipedes, a raccoon, land snails, a bearded dragon, a barn owl, a giant tortoise, a pygmy hedgehog, a bald guinea pig, a palm civet and a raccoon dog. And for the more adventurous, there is a tarantula, corn snakes and a 12ft Burmese python.

Alongside the zoo, the organising committee has arranged for visits from Batman, Spiderman and a Stormtrooper.

While children will have the chance to feed real reindeers as well as visiting Santa in his grotto.

Live music will be shown on the CFM stage with performances from Ben Rowland, The Singstars and Step by Step dancers.

And Whitehaven Theatre group will preview their panto, Beauty and the Beast .