AN award-winning Bradford garden centre will launch its Christmas season with an evening celebration featuring the Bradford Citadel Salvation Army band this week.

Tong Garden Centre's annual Christmas celebration evening will take place tomorrow (Thursday, October 11), from 4pm until 9pm.

Visitors will be welcomed with a free glass of wine and home-made mince pies until 6.30pm and will get 15% off all retail purchases. There will also be a free prize draw to win £100 worth of Tong Gift Vouchers plus a festive afternoon tea for two.

Commercial director Sharon McNair said there was an overwhelming response from visitors to the centre's Celebration of Christmas event last year.

She said: "It was wonderful to see Tong full of people keen to see the latest Christmas displays and being tempted by our extensive range of inspiring gift ideas to suit all pockets.

"In its heyday, people came from miles around to experience the wonder of Tong at Christmas. Over the last three years, the team at Tong has worked hard to recreate the old sparkle and sense of nostalgia and we're very excited about our plans to deliver a fantastic family Christmas experience again this year. We're delighted that the Salvation Army band will be playing throughout the evening, as there's nothing like a traditional brass band to herald the start of Christmas."

Visitors will also be able to book tickets for a VIP backstage pass on Tong's Arctic Tour where Santa's personal assistants will take children behind the scenes in this never-before-seen grand tour of the grotto.

Entry to the Grotto costs £12.50 per child and £6.25 for children under 12 months, except for the opening weekend on November 17 and 18, when pre-booked tickets are £10 and £5 respectively. You can book online at www.tonggardencentre.co.uk.

All of the concessions at Tong will be open until 9pm and the restaurant will be serving supper until 7pm.