BURY'S Mill Gate shopping centre is gearing up for Christmas with a sackful of festive ideas and attractions.

Extended opening hours for Sunday will begin this weekend, with shops open from 11am to 5pm.

Customers this weekend and the following Sunday can relax and enjoy complementary Indian head massages and Reiki sessions carried out by local therapists in Union Arcade. Marks and Spencer staff will also be providing free samples of festive food.

Special Christmas craft workshops for children start this Sunday and will continue until December 24.

And enterprising pupils from St Gabriel's RC High School, Bury, are setting up a gift wrapping service in Union Arcade every Thursday from 4pm, every Sunday, and on December 22, 23 and 24.

The shopping centre is also bringing the spirit of Christmas to needy families through the Giving Tree, located at the customer relations desk adjacent to Marks and Spencer. Shoppers can be given details of underprivileged children who need gifts and can buy a suitable gift for the youngsters.

Just before Christmas Day, the gifts will be collected from the Giving Tree and delivered to local children's workers for distribution.