TWO youngsters will have the honour of switching on a town’s Christmas lights accompanied by Santa.

Letchworth GC residents Leon Woolcott, seven, and Roisin Kennedy, nine, have won a competition to turn on the lights in the town centre on Saturday.

The event kicks off at 8am with a Victorian craft market in Garden Square Shopping Centre which runs until 4pm.

Ahead of Santa’s arrival at midday, children can get their face painted for free in Leys Square from 10am courtesy of Face 2 Face.

Five hours of entertainment on the main stage in Leys Square starts at 1pm with acts including St Chris’ Jazz Band and Mr Speaker and The Right Honourable Gentlemen – who will be performing their Christmas charity single for the first time in aid of the MS Trust.

As the excitement builds the Letchworth Salvation Army Band will be singing Christmas carols at 5.30pm followed by Santa making his way from the top of Eastcheap to Leys Square accompanied by Letchworth Round Table.

The town centre will then be illuminated with a flick of a switch at 6pm, complete with snow and fireworks.

Shefford’s Christmas lights will also be switched on at 6pm on Saturday with special guest Peppa Pig.

Shefford High Street will be closed to traffic from 4pm to 7.30pm with carol singing by Shefford Lower School from 5pm.

There will be a variety of stalls including a barbecue and funfair rides available during the event.