SANTA is taking a break from wrapping presents to come to Hindley town centre to start Christmas festivities.

More than 100 premises will be twinkling with specially decorated Christmas trees and festoons of sparkling lights. A special Christmas tree will stand outside Hindley library.

Tree lights will be formally switched on at 7pm on Friday, November 24 by Wigan RLFC and Latics stars along with a certain old gentleman with a long white beard and a red cloak. Autograph hunters will be able to track down the celebrities after the ceremony.

On behalf of his fellow Hindley councillors Jack Topping said they were determined to bring a festive spirit to Hindley this Christmas.

He said: "The trees and the decorations mean so much to local people, and especially the children. We believe that for most of their Christmas shopping Hindley people need to go further than their own town centre for what they need and we hope they will patronise our own traders. As councillors we appreciate very much their co-operation with our efforts.

"I must also thank both the rugby and the soccer club for their willingness to get some local stars along, and of course that old gentleman with the beard too. How he makes time to get around to everyone I shall never know. I have heard rumours that occasionally he has fielded a substitute, but we have been promised the real thing. We are also negotiating for a brass band to play to market shoppers on the Friday before Christmas, but this has not yet been quite finalised."

Mayor of Wigan, Cllr Mrs Joan Hurst will judge the best decorated town centre shop window on Tuesday, December 12 and the prize will be presented to the winning shop by local ward councillors the following Monday. Last year the trophy went to Maidens the Butchers.