THE Lyme Regis community is gearing up for one of the town’s biggest events of the year with their Christmas lights switch-on tonight (Saturday, December 1).

The town’s Christmas lights will be officially turned on in Broad Street, with events starting from 3pm.

Both children and adults are encouraged to join in with the fun at a lantern making workshop at Lyme Regis Baptist Church at 3pm, before their masterpieces - made at home or at the workshop - are judged at 4.30pm.

These will then be a part of the popular parade with the majorettes and Father Christmas, which leaves the church at 5.15pm to make its way to the Christmas tree in Broad Street.

Lyme Regis mayor, Cllr Michaela Ellis will have the honour of officially turning on the town’s Christmas tree lights at 5.30pm.

Broad Street will be closed to traffic from 5.10pm to 6pm this evening.

Events will continue in the town during the run up to Christmas, including the Christmas tree festival taking place at the Baptist Church from December 21 to 23.

The annual Rotary carols round the tree will also be taking place on Saturday, December 22, attracting hundreds of people to gather around the Christmas tree in Broad Street to sing songs with the Lyme Regis Town Band. This takes place from 7pm.

This year, the town Mill has teamed up with Christmas Tree for Life for residents to ‘adopt’ a tree for the festive period.

The scheme enables people to choose the size and shape of their tree, which is then delivered to their door and collected after Christmas.

For more information, visit www.townmill.org.uk