FESTIVE celebrations will officially start in Radcliffe this weekend at the switch-on of the town's Christmas lights.

The mayor of Bury, Cllr Stella Smith, will be flicking the switch to light up the town centre on Saturday afternoon, capping a day of festive fun.

Events will be running in the market hall and around the town centre piazza from 1-5pm, including a performance from local dance troupe Freak Dance and carol singing.

Santa will also be making an appearance at the market from 2pm onwards, with the switch-on itself due to take place at around 4.15pm.

Organiser Rhyse Cathcart said: "The Christmas lights switch-on is an important event for the town. We want people to feel proud of living in Radcliffe and this is a part of that.

"It's also a great chance to come and visit the market and see all of the stalls that are there. "

This year's lights switch on has been made possible thanks to donations from the Radcliffe Carnival Committee and Radcliffe Business Group, with Bury Council no longer able to fund the event.

He added: "People need to understand that we have to fundraise to make sure this can happen. Because of the cuts, the council can't afford to fund Christmas lights events themselves, and we are going to have to keep raising money in the future to make this event as good as it can be.

"Hopefully people will continue to support us and their town."

Eugene O'Donnell, chairman of Radcliffe Business Group, said: "We have donated a cash sum to the event this year to make sure it could go ahead. Without raising money from whatever sources we can to make up for what the council can't pay for, the lights switch-on won't be possible.

"Because the business group aren't running a Christmas event, we decided that this would be an excellent use of our funds to help make the lights switch-on as special as possible."