CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and plans are well advanced to get the lights up and shining in Biggleswade, Sandy and Potton. The first town to be lit up will be Potton where Father Christmas himself is being given the honour of pressing the switch on Frid

CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and plans are well advanced to get the lights up and shining in Biggleswade, Sandy and Potton.

The first town to be lit up will be Potton where Father Christmas himself is being given the honour of pressing the switch on Friday, December 1.

The event will start at 6pm in the Market Square with a winter festival where there will be stalls selling drinks, including mulled wine, hot chestnuts, cakes and sweets to get everyone in a Christmas mood.

Father Christmas will arrive on the Potton fire engine and will hopefully be greeted by a lot of children.

During the evening the town centre will echo to Christmas carols sung by a choir.

But there is still work to do to get things ready for the Christmas festivities and the team, under the guidance of Cllr Alan Leggett, is still looking for volunteers.

This coming Sunday and the following Sunday if anyone would like to help they should report to the Market Square at 10am to assist with the lights and then decorate and erect the Christmas tree.

Sandy's lights will be switched on during an afternoon Victorian Fayre on Sunday, December 3.

The fayre is organised by the Sandy Chamber of Trade and events start at 2pm with carols sung by Sandye Place School Choir. At 3pm there will be a carol service held by Churches Together with Frankie Hill, a concert singer with the London School of Music.

After the adult fancy dress competition the lights will be turned on by Christmas Prince Ben Kilby, 10, a pupil at Sandye Place School, and Princess Elouise Sanderson, nine, who attends Robert Peel School.

Visitors to the event will be able to enjoy a free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie.

The following day it is the turn of Biggleswade where the event will be held in the Market Square.

The Biggleswade Chamber of Trade is once again hoping for a big crowd to watch the event.

Graham Jones, secretary of the chamber of trade, said: "Last year's event was a great success when we saw the largest crowd for many years to watch the lights being switched on.