PREPARATIONS are well underway for Minehead’s Christmas lights switch-on with just 15 weeks to go until Christmas Day.

For the first time, there will be an afternoon event from 1-5pm on Saturday December 6.

This is the same weekend as Dunster by Candlelight and Cllr. Gail Everett said they were hoping that the events would complement each other.

The Parade will be closed to traffic and there will be a market, street entertainers, the Regal Rhythm Band and West Newton Jazz Band.

There will also be a steam lorry and Butlin’s landtrain, a hog roast in Wellington Square, face painting and the Christmas Tree Festival in the Methodist Church.

A town crier will be roaming the streets, keeping everyone updated and Father Christmas will be paying a visit.

The whole afternoon, will culminate with the switching on of the Christmas lights just before 5pm.

Cllr Everett added: “We’re hoping everyone will walk to the station after the light switching on to travel to Dunster on the buses.

“There will be other things happening, but they are still to be confirmed.”