Bristol in Pictures: Just a few more lights...

The Winterbourne Wonderland raises money for the Grand Appeal every year

Braving jokes about their electricity bills, the households in Bristol which have become must-visit destinations for fans of Christmas have flicked the on switch with spectacular results, as ever.

The term "superstar" may be overused but a genuine global phenomenon signed for the Bristol Bears Women this week.

Elsewhere, the teams behind festivals from across the UK gathered in Bristol for their annual awards and there was an important day for the future of the youth of the city.

Star quality: Bristol Bears made headlines around the world this week when the club signed USA superstar Ilona Maher who has more than eight million followers across her social media platforms. She will play for the women's rugby club from January.

Dazzling: The Brailsford Christmas lights in Brentry draw huge numbers of visitors every year, raising money for the Bristol Children's Hospital Grand Appeal charity in the process. First started in 1994, the display has grown over years and so far the Brailsfords have raised more than £110,000 for the charity.

Sparkling: The Winterbourne Wonderland, with more than 100,000 lights, raises money for the same cause, as do other illuminations in the city.

A special moment: Children and their families at Charlton Farm in Wraxall got to meet Father Christmas this week, the big man arriving by air thanks to a helicopter crew from RNAS Yeovilton. The Children's Hospice South West hospice looks after little ones with life-limiting illnesses.

Tis the season: Volunteers from Operation Community Hamper are currently on an eight-day tour of the West, handing out some 1,000 hampers from an open-top bus. The project, launched in Bristol in 2020, is aimed at families - even some in work - who are struggling financially. The vehicle was donated by First West of England.

Southside (good) boy: Rocky the rescue greyhound pauses during a walk on the Northern Slopes on the edge of Knowle West. Sunrise and dusk are often busy times for dog walkers in the city's parks and green spaces.

Eve of the big game: Ross Byrne of Leinster goes through his kicking routine as the players from the Irish side got a taste of Ashton Gate ahead of the clash with Bristol Bears in the Investec Champions Cup on Sunday.

Safe from harm: A new 'safe space' is being trialled in Bristol this weekend to reduce violence against women and girls. The Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), in collaboration with Avon & Somerset Police, will have a mobile unit in the city centre where people can seek help, wait for friends or family or charge their phones.

For the future: Construction has begun on a new £11m youth centre which, when finished, will support abut 4,000 young people. Being built on the edge of Knowle West, it will be called the 224 Youth Zone and should be open by the spring of 2026.

Creatives assemble: The UK Festival Awards were held at Document in Bristol on Tuesday, bringing together teams from across the country who put together major events. Bristol had its moment in the spotlight with Boomtown, based in the city, winning an award along with Bristol Pride.

Running through Filton: Kevin Sinfield brought his 7 in 7 challenge to the West on Monday, running from Kingsholm in Gloucester to Ashton Gate, via the Memorial Stadium. His epic effort - 230 miles in seven days - is raising money to combat Motor Neurone Disease.

Community effort: Alan Pratley, who set up Ashton Vale Together in 2013, was presented with a Lord Mayor's Medal this year and accepted it on behalf of the group, which carries out litter pics, creates pocket parks and runs social events. On Friday he was able to bring the medal back to celebrate with his fellow volunteers.

A chance to learn: University of Bristol academic Dr Edson Burton is leading a new course, beginning in January, called Black History Revisited, which will be held at the university and the St Paul's Learning Centre.

"Most of what I learnt about Black history came through informally, through TV shows like Roots and Black musical culture like reggae and dub poetry. It wasn't until my PhD that I realised how little I really knew," said Dr Burton, a writer, historian and poet.

Issue of our time: Broadcasting legend Jonathan Dimbleby was the guest of honour as a new campaign to tackle loneliness was launched at the Bristol Beacon this week. The Impact Alliance is bringing together several organisations to 'make loneliness a stranger' in the city and also in North Somerset, Bath and South Gloucestershire. With £500,000 annual funding already pledged by the St Monica Trust, organisers hope to raise £1.5m a year to reduce social isolation.

Making his mark: Bristol artist Andy Council has celebrated 20 years of his iconic Bristol Dinosaur by unveiling the latest version at Cabot Circus. The 60 sqm design is, as ever, made up of buildings and sights in the city and was made with the support of Cabot Circus and Upfest.