Totnes will welcome the start of the festive season with its annual Christmas lights switch-on, featuring illuminated projections on Fore Street buildings for the first time.

The free community event will take place on Tuesday, November 24, with entertainment beginning in the town centre from 3pm.

Totnes Mayor Cllr Tim Bennett will switch on the Christmas tree and lights around Market Square at 5.30pm, as The East Gate Arch and trees at The Rotherfold, Shady Garden and The Plains also become illuminated.

New this year, festive light projections will be displayed on buildings in Fore Street, including The Mansion, Halls Butchers and the former Lloyds Bank building.

Children from The Grove School and Totnes St John's School will perform seasonal songs, while families can visit Father Christmas and an inflatable snow globe inside the Civic Hall.

Children can experience more festive magic with a craft table, a stilt walker, Elfic the Jester and Bubbles the Pixie. There will also be complimentary juice and biscuits and subsidised hot food for children.

Cllr Bennett said: “This event brings together our whole community for a fantastic, festive evening celebrating the switching on of our wonderful town’s Christmas lights.

“It’s a great way to give back to the people of Totnes, supported by much-loved pillars of our community. We hope that as many people as possible can join us in celebrating this special event to kick off the festive season.”

Free transport will be provided by Bob The Bus, one of the Mayor’s Charities of the Year alongside Food for Children, between 4pm and 7pm, with pick-ups at Bridgetown Spar, Market Square and Follaton Stores.

The service will run from Bridgetown Spar at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm, and from Follaton Stores at 4.30pm, 5.30pm and 6.30pm. Market Square departures will run every 30 minutes from 4.15pm to 6.45pm.

Christmas markets and late-night shopping will also return to Totnes every Tuesday from December 8, running from 3pm to 9pm.