THE Bathampton Morrris Men make a welcome return to Bradford on Avon, Rode and Beckington this month with their annual mummer's play.

This year, the tour takes place on Thursday, December 21 as they perform their traditional Christmas ‘Mumming’ play to raise money for charity in the pubs and restaurants of the town.

James Sullivan-Tailyour, of The Swan Hotel, said: “Last year they raised £500.95 for the Bradford on Avon Hub, a charitable trust which was set up to empower people in the community to relieve poverty and encourage improvement of health and wellbeing and a sense of purpose.

“The Hub provides a food-bank, work club and debt and money management advice together with other services and facilities including a meeting space.

“This year all proceeds go to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. The neo-natal unit provides care for premature and sick term new-born babies.

“Around 10 per cent of all babies will need admission to a neo-natal unit, commonly because of prematurity, infection, breathing difficulties or feeding problems.”

Mr Sullivan-Tailyour added: “During the evening they hope to visit 14 venues in and around Bradford on Avon, so please come out and support this great activity raising money for a very worthy cause, while enjoying the short mumming performance and a drink or snack in the venues hosting the event.”

The mummers will visit:

1. – 7.30pm The Forester’s Arms, 58 Goose Street, Beckington, BA11 6SS

2. – 8pm The Cross Keys, 20 High Street, Rode, BA11 6NZ

3. – 8.20pm Three Horseshoes, 55 Frome Rd, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LA

4. – 8.30pm Timbrell's Yard, 49 St. Margaret Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1DE

5. – 8.40pm The Weaving Shed, Kingston Rd, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1EJ

6. – 8.50pm The Fat Fowl, Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JX

7. – 9pm Swan Hotel, 1 Church St, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LN

8. – 9.20pm Dandy Lion, 35 Market St, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LL

9. – 9.30pm The Stumble Inn, 29 Market Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LL

10. – 9.40pm The Bear Inn, 26 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JY

11. – 9.50pm The Bunch of Grapes, 14 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JY

12. – 10pm Pizzeria Amici, 22 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JZ

13. – 10.20pm The Castle Inn, 10 Mount Pleasant, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1SJ

14. – 10.30pm Mount Pleasant Social Club, 1 Mount Pleasant, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1SJ