LYMM Parish Council is appealing for 17 volunteers to help ensure the much-loved Carols from The Cross event can go ahead this Christmas Eve, warning it could be cancelled if enough stewards are not recruited by December 12.
The popular annual community event brings large crowds together in Lymm village centre on Christmas Eve, but organisers say additional volunteers are needed to ensure it can be delivered safely.
Lymm Parish Council has committed to planning the event with enhanced safety measures in light of Martyn’s Law, formally known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, which received Royal Assent on April 3, 2025.
The legislation followed the horrific Manchester Arena attack in 2017, which claimed 22 lives. The campaign for stronger protective measures was led by Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was among those killed.
Although Carols from The Cross does not formally fall within the scope of the legislation’s enhanced requirements, the Parish Council has voted to apply the same level of rigour to its planning to help protect the families and visitors who attend.
To support the arrangements, the council is paying for qualified marshals to manage road closures, reducing the number of volunteers required.
However, 17 volunteer stewards are still needed within the event area itself.
Event manager Cllr Colin Oakley said: “Carols from the Cross is a wonderful Lymm tradition and a lovely way for our community to come together on Christmas Eve.
“Our volunteer stewards make a real difference, helping everyone enjoy the evening safely. If you can spare some time to help, we would be delighted to hear from you.
“All volunteers will still be able to participate in the event whilst keeping it safe. You won’t be posted to a car park or the end of the village, you will be within the event ‘arena’, so to speak.”
Volunteers will be required to complete a short online training course and attend a briefing session before the event.
On Christmas Eve, stewards will need to sign in at approximately 6pm and will be stood down once the area is safe to do so, normally around 9pm.
The Parish Council says the deadline for recruiting sufficient volunteers is December 12.
If the required number cannot be secured by then, the council will be forced to cancel the event – a decision it says it is keen to avoid, but one that may be necessary given the large crowds expected and the priority of keeping everyone safe.
Anyone willing to volunteer can register by completing the online form on the Lymm Parish Council website at:
https://www.lymmparishcouncil.gov.uk/carols-from-the-cross
Organisers hope local residents will come forward to help preserve one of Lymm’s best-loved Christmas traditions.
