A Rochester neighbourhood has come up with an ingenious way of sharing some festive cheer - by turning their entire square into a living advent calendar.

Prising open daily doors for chocolates in the run up to Christmas has been the done thing since the 1950s, but for residents of Bishop's Square in Rochester, advent has found a new tradition.

This week the community pulled back the curtains on the area’s creative and community spirit with the first of 25 festive window displays.

Each day, limited only by imagination and supplies of glue and glitter, a new window will be revealed, culminating in a surprise musical performance on Christmas Eve.

So far displays unveiled include a sweet shop-themed window, an advent calendar revealing a different Christmas film each day and a traditional festive scene.

For added fun, Bella the fairy will flit from window to window with residents in Langdon, Horsley, Ridley and Mitre roads encouraged to seek out her next stop.

Rochester artist and visual story-teller Heather Haythornthwaite came up with the idea for the community advent calendar and treasure trail.

“We’re a really close-knit community here, but like most places 2020 has been a challenge,” she said.

“I wanted to do something to make people smile and give everyone a boost as Christmas approaches.

"What’s been lovely is how people here have wanted to be involved, and how much it has brought us all together.”

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