CHRISTMAS fairies will flutter into Bury St Edmunds this December in an attempt to break a world record and support a charity at the same time.

Bid4Bury, the town centre improvement organisation, is inviting everyone who comes into town for late-night shopping on Thursday, December 13, to take part in the challenge to achieve a gathering of the largest number of people dressed as a fairy.

The event will support Breakthrough Breast Cancer and will also help raise awareness of the town.

Mark Cordell, chief executive of Bid4Bury, said: “The top of the Christmas tree may be the traditional place to see a fairy in December but our aim is to have several hundred of them in Bury St Edmunds town centre too.

“Bid4Bury has been providing fun activities and entertainment at the town’s late-night Christmas shopping evenings since last year but we are always looking for something different and to break a world record would be fantastic.”

Laura Hudson, who chairs the West Suffolk Breakthrough Breast Cancer group, said: “I think this is a wonderful idea from Bid4Bury and it will really bring some Christmas magic to the town.

“Breakthrough Breast Cancer would love to see many of the fairies wearing something pink on the day too to highlight their support for our life-saving work. I’d also like to thank Dave Cobden from Dance Crazy in St John’s Street who is supporting the event by making a donation for every fairy costume sold.”

The record-breaking attempt is open to anyone of any age. To take part participants must wear fairy wings, a tutu and tights or bare legs. There is no charge to take part, but bucket collections will be made during the evening to support the charity.

It is hoped that local businesses will also help put the fun into fundraising on the night by doing their own fairy or pink-themed activities.