Christmas is upon us once again. For most of us this will be a time of family, fun, friends and revelry. It is a time to consider – once the presents are wrapped and the fridge stocked with food – the true meaning of the season.

Whether you are of a religious persuasion or not, Christmas is a time for goodwill and peace.

The end of the year gives us the opportunity to take stock of the year that has gone by, and to think about those who are close to us and others who may not have the good fortune that – fingers crossed – many of us have enjoyed.

Throughout this Christmas Eve edition of the newspaper you can find evidence of our local communities keeping the season in their own ways, be that through festive productions, church carol services, charitable gestures and, of course, the odd appearance of Father Christmas here and there.

However you choose to celebrate, be it with a family gathering, a huge party or perhaps just some time in your own company, all of us here would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to sharing the vital news and views from your town with you in 2014.

Whatever you are doing, have fun, stay safe and look after those around you.