Up to 120 local children will be having a fun and festive time at the ninth annual Kids' Christmas party organised by Bristol University's Student Community Action (SCA) on Saturday, December 6.

The party, for four- to 12-year-olds from areas including Knowle, Southmead, Avonmouth and St Paul's, will take place at Churchill Hall, Stoke Bishop, from 2 to 5 pm.

Entertainment will be in abundance with party games, bouncy castle, karaoke, fire engine, police car and, of course, Father Christmas in his grotto giving out presents.   The children will also have the opportunity to see spitting cockroaches and stick insects from Bristol Zoo.

A tea party, with Ben and Jerry's ice cream, will round off the afternoon. Every child together with the 70 volunteer helpers will be wearing a special T-shirt, designed by one of the children attending the party.

Bryony Ryan, SCA Co-ordinator, said: "There are many more young children in Bristol than SCA can support through its various year-round projects.  This is our way of reaching out to more of them and making their Christmas extra special.

"SCA has 800 volunteers in total, working on projects from a night shelter for the homeless to a day centre for the elderly, to helping out in local schools and much, much more.

"It's great that students want to give up their time and become involved in the community while they are studying at Bristol."

Katie Mort, a volunteer at this year's party, said: 'We are looking forward to a great party.  This year we are delighted to welcome, for the first time, children from a local hostel for homeless families."