Ledbury is set to get fully into the festive spirit this weekend as the town’s Christmas lights are switched on.

The big switch-on will take place at 5pm on Sunday, November 27, with mayor Phillip Howells and Ledbury’s carnival princesses having the honour of flipping the switch outside the town’s iconic Market House.

As is now traditional, the festivities will start long before the actual switch-on.

Ledbury Town Council has organised a whole afternoon of entertainment, as well as a street market and children’s crafts inside the Burgage Hall.

The event gets underway at 12pm and vocalist Amanda Hopewell will be performing on stage at 12.30pm.

Two appearances from the Snow Queen are promised, at 1.45pm and 3.30pm, and there will be Elf Mayhem at 2.30pm, followed by the talents of Ledbury Dance Co at 3pm.

At 4.45pm, we can look forward to music from Ledbury Brass Band and Community Choir.

After the grand switch-on, Ledbury Morris will take to the stage to round-off proceedings.

Father Christmas will also be in town on Sunday and at the time of writing there are still a limited number of tickets available to meet the man himself at Ledbury Town Council’s offices in Church Lane.

Tickets must be booked in advance by calling 01531 632306 or in person at the town council offices. It costs £2 per child, or £5 for three children from the same household, and there is a gift for every child.

Ledbury Town Council’s Christmas celebrations continue on Tuesday, December 6, with mayor Phillip Howells’ December Coffee Morning.

The event will take place at the town council offices between 10.30am and 12pm on the day, with mulled wine, mince pies and a raffle draw the order of the day.

The mayor and friends will be raising money for Strong Young Minds, a Big Lottery-funded project designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Herefordshire.

On Sunday, December 11, the Ledbury Town Carol Service will take place at St Michael and All Angels Church at 6.30pm.