A VERY merry Christmas to all Oakley readers.

PLEASE note: The One Stop in Oakley will not be open on Christmas Day this year, but will be open from 7am until 7pm on Boxing Day and 8am until 8pm on New Year's Day.

Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve have normal opening hours.

PLANNING applications: A number of planning applications have been submitted for buildings in and around Oakley, including an application to convert a retail unit in Meon Road into a takeaway.

To find out more and to see if they affect you, log on to www.basingstoke.gov.uk/planning/applications and search by postcode.

OAKLEY Ramblers: Work off those Christmas pounds by joining Oakley Ramblers on Wednesday, for a walk, led by Peggy and Don.

Call 780753 for more information.

CHRISTMAS church services are as follows: Christmas Eve crib service at 3pm at St Leonard's with the Christmas communion service at 11.15pm.

There is also a service at 11.30pm at the chapel by the pond.

On Christmas Day there is a communion service at 8am at St Leonard's with the family service starting at 10.30am and a short communion at 11.30am.

The service at the Chapel by the pond starts at 10am.

VILLAGE News: There will be no Oakley reports now for two weeks, but please contact me in the new year with any news items on Traceybowsh@aol.com

I would love to hear from you.