The Eastcote Residents Association were again in attendance at this year's Eastcote Christmas Market & Fair, supporting the local business community and offering a festive mince pie or glass of mulled wine to visitors to our stand.

The event, held on Sunday 4th December, saw the streets of Eastcote packed once more for the start of the traditional Christmas retail period as it was transformed into a winter wonderland of stalls, rides, attractions and live music.

Hosted for the first time by Eastcote Festival Team, the day kicked off at 10am with Children's storytelling in the library and a variety of events throughout the day.

The Deputy Mayor led a candlelight procession to the stage before the all new and improved Eastcote Christmas lights were switched on including, for the first time ever, Eastcote station; being transformed into a Harrods style lighting centrepiece.

The Eastcote Residents Association are pleased to announce that our highly successful stall managed to raise over £320 on the day, leaving a profit of around £200 after costs.

Probably North-West London’s largest specialty Christmas street Market. In 2010 the event attracted 10,000 visitors. This year’s event promises to be an event packed full of family festive fun. Eastcote Town Centre (Metropolitan & Piccadilly Lines) will again play host to a feast of continental and artisan stalls courtesy of leading events company www.savior-fayre.com

You’re invited to join the amazing Candle-light Parade, Carol Service and Christmas blessing; led by the ministers of the town’s four churches, from approximately 4pm.

The RSPCA (yes the animal charity) will present a fashion show for the style conscious and show just what a bargain hunters’ paradise charity shops can be even for the most discerning fashion conscious. On the main stage at approx 3pm

Our Friends, from Brixton’s fair, will be bringing the largest Fun Fair ever seen in the village, there will be a multitude of Children’s rides and for the more adventurous everything from the Big Wheel towering over Morford Way, to the famous Miami Boost. And, for adrenalin junkies only, The  150 ft Tall Booster 2 Do you have a head for heights?

A whole host of live bands, groups, singers and dancers will perform throughout the day from 10am on the main stage.

The London Motor Museum will be bringing a collection of their amazing custom and famous film cars to town. Amongst their collection is everything from “Del Boy’s” Reliant Robin to the Batmobile, not to mention the delightful Herbie the lovebughttp://www.londonmotormuseum.co.uk

For the younger ones among you, why not catch a Christmas storytelling session in the comfort of the newly refurbished Eastcote Library – open especially on a Sunday! Perhaps mum, dad, auntie and uncle can enjoy a well earned Cafè Latte from the library coffee shop at the same time.

Catch up with the event news and join in the village’s transition into a Christmas Wonderland at www.eastcotefestival.co.uk better still come and join us Sunday 4^thDecember 2011, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Ian Brooks, Eastcote Residents' Association's Road Safety Officer, has launched a petition to tackle the increasing noise issues caused by arctic lorries driving down unsuitable residential roads during the early hours of the morning.

The routes taken by the lorry drivers, who must stick to agreed roads to minimise disruption, are illegal but Hillingdon Council have no means of investigating or punishing offenders due to opting out of the enforcement agreement in a bid to cut costs. As such residents are regularly disturbed during the early hours as lorries, some as heavy as 40-tonnes, navigate through quiet residential roads.

The ERA have therefore begun the petition to establish how widespread the disturbances are throughout the borough in an effort to highlight to Hillingdon the distress the problem is causing and urge them to reconsider the reintroduction of measures to prosecute offenders within Hillingdon.

Read more: ERA Launches Lorry Ban Petition

BUDDHA IN SUBURBIA, a documentary about the life and work of H.E. Lelung Tulku, is to be shown on TV. It also shows an item on the Lelung Dharma Centre in Eastcote and how it has developed.

The film, commissioned by the BBC, has been over two years in the making. It  follows Lelung Rinpoche as he carries out his work here in U.K., in India and Mongolia. Directed by Robert Wilkins and produced by Simon Wheeler (KINGDOM, drama series 2007)

BUDDHA IN SUBURBIA  - BBC2  7PM   - MONDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER

If you missed it first time around, you can also catch the programme on BBC's iPlayer here.