George Osborne's Christmas Message for Wilmslow

After excitable children, not to mention new pets, have been put to bed we have time to think about the year that is ending and the year about to begin.

There is no doubt that this has been a year of challenges. Both here in Wilmslow and throughout the country people of all ages have been working hard to provide for their families, build up their businesses or secure good exam results. Some of those people, such as those in our emergency services, will be working on Christmas Day and I will certainly be thinking of them with gratitude. I will also be thinking of people in my constituency who have not had the easiest of years and hope that, in a small way, I have been able to help them with their problems.

2013 has been a busy year for the Wilmslow area. Wilmslow High had excellent exam results again. There was fantastic news that Handforth station is being considered for funding to give all of the platforms step-free access. We've welcomed new businesses and new jobs to the area, such as Cirrus, Hawthorns Deli and The ZipYard, creating jobs for local people. And Wilmslow residents can rightly take pride in their town, the Jubilee Celebration Rose Garden planted by Wilmslow Rotary is a perfect example of this. The highlight of my year, though was to present local resident Glynn Tegfan Jones with an Arctic Star for his brave service in the gruelling Arctic convoys during the Second World War. He is a true hero.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.