THE countdown to Christmas has officially begun in Petersfield – although it took a little help from a popular television presenter.

Ben Errey and Steve Jacob have succeeded in turning Petersfield town centre into a winter wonderland.

An impressive ice rink beside The Red Lion pub was opened last Saturday morning by South Today stalwart Sally Taylor and town mayor Mary Vincent.

And Santa Claus was back in town the next day for the Petersfield Christmas market on The Square and High Street.

The combination of street food, stalls and the December farmers' market was a tempting one for thousands of visitors on Sunday.

For full story and more pictures, see this week's Petersfield Herald.