Bristol Bears A group of about a dozen people pose for a photo with just over half of them stood behind while four women kneel in front. They are of varying ages and a mix of men and women. Some of them are from Bristol Bears.

Excitement has been growing across the West this week as Christmas draws closer and many people have been getting into the festive spirit at events across the region.

Bristol Bears have been spreading some seasonal cheer by visiting 15 different charities, schools and care settings to lend a hand and deliver presents.

Here is our weekly round-up of photographs from across the region.

Bristol

Giving Back Day: More than 60 players and staff from Bristol Bears took part in what has become an annual community day, adding a special touch to the run-up to Christmas.

Jon Craig Young choristers walking down the aisle of Bristol Cathedral, dressed in red robes and white neck cuffs, all holding candles in the darkness

Seasonal songs: This striking photograph was captured at the annual Carols by Candlelight concert at Bristol Cathedral.

Marcus Whitehouse A row of slim bollards on a pavement, all painted in different colours, mainly green, blue, turquoise and red, some with leaf patterns

Lasting tribute: This stretch of 122 hand-painted traffic bollards in south Bristol is in memory of Marcus Willcocks, an urban designer from Windmill Hill. The installation was carried out in line with Mr Willcock’s “heartfelt” wish to soften the impact of 300 newly-installed black bollards and to “uplift” the experience of walking and cycling through the area.

Matt Robinson/Great Western Air Ambulance Charity An aerial image taken from a drone of the Severn Bridge with heavy cloud sitting underneath and blanketing the river as far as the eye can see.

Call-out: Critical care paramedic Matt Robinson captured this cloud sitting underneath the Severn Bridge while on duty with Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

Somerset

Everyone Active About ten people in black gym uniform are standing and smiling to camera with some rowing machines in the foreground and a bench of weights behind them, reflected in the large mirror on the back wall.

Ribbon cutting: Two exciting gym makeovers were unveiled in Taunton this week – at Blackbrook Leisure Centre and Spa and Wellsprings Leisure Centre.

Getty Images A house is lit up in colourful Christmas lights on a residential street. It has yellow lights all over it, creating a waterfall-like effect in places. Two trees outside the property have been covered in coloured lights.

Festive cheer: Christmas lights are on display on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea. The road is known for its festive display with people travelling to visit it each year.

Getty Images Large crowds are walking past Christmas market stalls in the dark. The stalls are brightly lit with Christmas lights and sit in front of a historic Bath stone building.

Market fare: Shoppers browse stalls at the Christmas market in the centre of the historic city of Bath. Bath and North East Somerset Council said an estimated 440,000 people visited Bath Christmas Market this year. It ended on 14 December.

Weather Watchers/The Cleeve Rambler A moody photography of wet sand at a beach which appears almost grey in colour. The tide appears to be going out with tide lines visible on the sand. The brown water from the Severn is visible out towards the horizon. The sky is cloudy with a small patch of blue in the centre of the frame. A railing along a jetty going down to the beach is visible in the left of the shot.

Wave forms: This moody coastal shot at Burnham-on-Sea was captured by one of our Weather Watchers.

Weather Watchers/Woody Rows of houses on a hillside are pictured under a light pink sky. An orange streak of setting sun is visible in the distance. There are trees in the foreground and three distinct hills in the background which look almost like camel humps.

Wintry sunrise: BBC Weather Watcher Woody captured this image over Minehead this week.

Wookey Hole Caves A woman dressed in black with long flowing blonde hair, smiling to camera and holding her arms aloft in a cave within Wookey Hole cave, which is lit up behind her

Spellbinding: The Wookey Witch will be in residence at the Wookey Hole Caves from Saturday, when visitors can explore a magical world underground at the Somerset attraction.

Gloucestershire

Sue Ryder A house is surrounded by a large cage-like structure which is covered in lit-up Christmas decorations of stars, the Nativity, gingerbread men and women, bells, angels, and more. It is dark and a street light is on.

Merry and bright: The Wearing family have transformed the exterior of their home on Beverstone Road, South Cerney into a Christmas wonderland. The family have been adorning their property with lights for more than a decade, with any funds raised donated to Sue Ryder, which cared for their wife, mother, and grandmother, Sandra, at Leckhampton Court Hospice.

BBC Weather Watchers/Ramshots A large rainbow hangs over a housing estate on a winter's morning, with a pinky-blue sunrise lighting up the clear sky.

Shepherd’s warning: An early morning rainbow against a hazy backdrop of blue and pink brought hope in the face of a fiery red sky on the other end of the horizon in Gloucester on Wednesday.

Stroud District Foodbank A close-up of Daisy May Cooper in a warehouse by shelving wearing a Christmas snowman jumper and tinsel scarf, pointing with an open mouth to a male worker who is smiling to camera. He has a green jumper and a short white beard.

Christmas hampers: The actress Daisy May Cooper visited Stroud District Foodbank to meet the staff and volunteers, whom she described as “angels” for their kindness and dedication.

A group of about 15 adults gather around inside Gloucester Services, which is decorated for the festive period, to sing carols. They are wrapped up warm with coats and boots as one person conducts them.

The Big Getaway: There were warnings of gridlock on Friday, which was predicted to be the biggest day for Christmas travel this year. With the AA predicting a total of 24.4 million cars hitting the roads, a choir gathered at Gloucester Services to bring festive cheer to motorists.

Wiltshire

Walking With The Wounded Men in football kits on a football pitch holding flags which say 'Walking for Wounded' A stand is behind them which reads 'The Tidworth Oval'

Super soldiers: A team of serving soldiers, reservists and veterans have completed a mammoth fundraising challenge in aid of Walking With The Wounded. Their challenge included a charity football match at Tidworth Oval and a 48 mile (77km) walk.

BBC Weather Watchers / Earlystartalex A bright pink and orange sky over a dark tree-lined landscape. There are wide clouds filling the sky, making it appear striped as the sun lights it up in various shades of red and orange.

Sunny skies: It was a beautiful Wednesday morning across the region, with Weather Watcher Alex getting up early for this sunrise in Warminster.

Swindon Borough Council A group of nine men and women stand either side of a gold plaque with a red bow on it. They are smiling for the camera and wearing smart clothing. The plaque is on a red-brick building and there are Christmas decorations dotted about behind the people.

Touching tribute: A memorial plaque has been unveiled at Fessey House care home in Swindon to commemorate councillor Brian Ford, who supported the development of adult social care services across the borough.