National Maritime Museum Cornwall has a new programme of festive activities called Lanterns and Lights

Running from Saturday, December 21 until Sunday, January 5, Lanterns and Lights takes inspiration from how light is used throughout the maritime world, past and present.

Daisy Belle, the centrepiece for the festive celebrations, will be decked out in twinkling lights and will be the museum’s version of a giant decorated Christmas tree.

The Cornish wooden boat, built in 1885, which has been restored by the museum and has spent the summer at the National Trust’s Trelissick Gardens. The boat returning to the museum and back on display marks the approach of Christmas.

The museum’s hugely popular ‘Make and Take’ crafting activities, incorporate light as the main theme and change from lantern making pre-Christmas to make-a-wish boats after Christmas.

Running from Saturday, December 21 until Christmas Eve, children can make macramé lanterns complete with a jar for a candle to light the way through the dark winter nights.

From Boxing Day until the end of the school holidays the workshops change to welcome the New Year on a brilliant, positive note. Families are invited to help create a stunning installation of lit paper boats, each holding a wish for the year ahead.

The boats will be displayed underneath a giant paper Packet Ship lantern which has been commissioned for the occasion and children will be able to make a special boat to take home.

The ‘Make and Take’ activities are complimented by a light-filled museum trail with families exploring the Museum to discover all the festive light themed objects. Collect them all and win a prize.

The museum’s learning officer, Sophie Butcher said: "Our ambition is for Lanterns and Lights to be a must-see part of Christmas time calendar for families in Cornwall. Each year we aim to grow and build upon the activities and events."