Christmas shoppers in Blandford were entertained by a festive family fun Yule Ride, a first for the town, which was designed as a covid-secure event to plug the gaps left by the usual pre-Christmas festivities, but could become an annual event.

Guides ‘disguised’ as reindeer led cyclists – many of them in their own fancy dress – through the town on a route which took them from the Milldown down the North Dorset Trailway to Station Court to Market Place. They rode smoothly alongside the nose-to-tail traffic and on to West Street, from where there they entered Morrisons car park and went over the Mortain Bridge to Stour Meadows. Wishing passers by a Merry Christmas, they travelled along Rotary Way beside the riverbank to the Preetz bridge and into Langton Road before returning.

The reindeer guides ensured the participants, young and old, were aware of all potential hazards, particular when crossing roads, negotiating traffic lights, and riding along East Street and through the Market Place. Volunteers from the Dorset Cyclists Network and Blandford Town Team helped organiser Dilys Gartside of the DCN stage the event with guidance from Cycling UK. Participants were limited to groups of five so their reindeer guide could be included in the permitted group of six and had to book their place in advance so that timed departures ensured no meeting of groups along the way.

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