LIGHTS will illuminate the heart of Newton Abbot this weekend as Father Christmas prepares to switch on this year’s festive display.

The sky above the town will be alive with a whole host of colours following Saturday’s 5.30pm switch-on, which will include a firework display.

Punters will be treated to live entertainment throughout Saturday with music from Coombeshead Academy Music Department, face painting, balloon modelling and the Breeze radio station will be offering the public a chance to win a car.

A procession, made up of the mayor, deputy mayor, councillors, borough criers and the carnival queen and attendants will march from the town hall to St Leonard’s Clock Tower for the annual tradition.

Town centre development manager Sally Henley said: ‘Families really look forward to this time of year, when Newton Abbot comes into its own with festive fun, and Father Christmas tells me that this one of his favourite towns, so we are lucky that he saves the date in his diary every year.’

Kelly Burridge, the town council’s events coordinator, said: ‘This is such a fantastic event and it grows every year.

‘The light switch-on kicks-off the Christmas season, so don’t miss the various December events.’

For more information about upcoming events in the town visit the town council’s website.