Residents and the care team at a Flixton care home are preparing to open its gardens for a special Christmas market next week, to be attended by the mayor.

The De Brook Lodge Christmas Market is free to enter and will take place on Saturday 18 December, from 2pm until 4.30pm at the Irlam Road residential home.

Visitors will be able to enjoy seasonal refreshments, visit Santa’s grotto and meet his animal friends as well as browsing for last minute gifts and enjoying carolling from Music in Hospitals and Care.

A range of stalls will include cupcakes, brownies and traybakes from Bonnells Cakes, John’s Pie Stall, Debbie Dickerson Seasonal Wreaths, wax melts and fragrances from Scentherapy as well as stallholders selling Body Shop and Tropic products. A De Brook Lodge stall will sell handmade cards, hand-knits, chocolate oranges in homemade cosies[KH1] and will also host a tombola.

Children can pay a visit to Santa’s grotto (£3 charge) and whisper their Christmas list requests into his ear. Every child will receive a small gift.

Animal lovers will be excited to hear that Wonky Donkey & Co will be bringing along three of their wards, Willow the barn owl, Jesus the donkey and Delilah the Shetland pony.

Trafford voluntary group Cycling Without Age will arrive on a trishaw – a tricycle rickshaw which comfortably seats two – and will offer rides around the local streets

And the 2nd Flixton Guides are running free festive arts and crafts activities for children to join in.

The mayor of Trafford, councillor Laurence Walsh, will be in attendance, along with his wife the mayoress Rachel Walsh

Danielle Aikenhead, lifestyle manager, De Brook Lodge, said: “This is our first ever Christmas fair and we couldn’t be more excited.

“After discussion with our residents, we decided to bring the festive buzz of Manchester’s Christmas markets home to Flixton.

“In this way, our residents can still enjoy a seasonal trip to the markets with family and friends, but in a safe and familiar environment.

“Everyone is invited to browse our stalls, enjoy our festive refreshments, pet the animals, join in with the carol singers and soak up the atmosphere.”

The De Brook Lodge Christmas Market is on Saturday 18 December, 2-4.30pm, at 110 Irlam Rd, Flixton M41 6NA. Entry is free.