NOVELS by Charles Dickens prompted the festive theme at Kiplin Hall where visitors may find Scrooge in bed haunted by the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Local flower clubs helped decorate the rooms with greenery, flowers and Christmas trees in time for this weekend's opening.

Original Victorian dresses, fashion plates and magazines, shoes and bodices on loan from the History Wardrobe are displayed in the Long Gallery ready for a Pickwickian Christmas Ball.

Other displays feature The Cratchits’ kitchen, an old-fashioned card party from Pickwick Papers and Mr Fezziwig’s annual Christmas ball.

There is a craft gift fair in the Maryland Study Centre and Christmas lunches and other festive treats are available in the tea room.

Dates are this weekend until Sunday and next Friday until Sunday, December 13, from 10am 4pm. Admission is £8.30, concession £7.30, child £4.30, family £24.50.