'SANTA' will be guest of honour at the Christmas Lights switch-on in Burnley next week.

Local radio presenters will be hosting the event from 5.30pm until 7pm on Thursday with a line-up of music, special guest appearances from Burnley FC manager Steve Cotterill, Shelles Belles cheerleaders, fire eaters, stiltwalkers, and fireworks.

Burnley-based children's party venue It's My Party' will present an exclusive stage play "Once Upon a Christmas Time - The town that saved Santa".

The play will involvie special effects and lighting, music and dancing and audience participation leading up to the town centre lights switch-on at 6.50pm by two competition winners.

A 10-minute rooftop firework display will be the grand finale to this traditional event.

Children will have the opportunity to meet Santa' earlier in the day on a carriage led by the Thwaites' brewery shire horses. Santa will appear in St James's Street, outside the Red Lion pub from 3.30pm until 5.30pm, before returning to the stage later in the evening.

Nightclub Lava and Ignite will be providing stilt walkers, dancers and fire eaters, from 5pm onwards and, as a Christmas treat for the over 18's, Benedictine will also be holding a free tasting session in Yates's Wine Lodge.

Lisa Durkin, town centre manager said: "The town centre switch-on is the biggest event of the year and this year is based on a traditional Christmas theme which will bring some real Christmas magic and sparkle appealing to all ages.

"It will be a very special night indeed and definitely not one to be missed, so people should come down and join in the fun."

The switch-on marks the start of late shopping with stores open until 9pm from November 23.

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