THE STREETS of Warminster and Westbury will be ablaze with colour on Friday evening when both towns switch on their Christmas lights.

After weeks of planning and preparations organisers hope the array of lights will draw shoppers to the towns to make their Christmas purchases.

The action in Warminster lasts from 6-7.30pm, when a mystery Santa will flick the switch in front of St Laurence's Church in the High Street.

This year's lights, which have come all the way from Germany, aim to be better than ever. To mark their switch-on Warminster is laying on jugglers, hot dogs and candyfloss.

Last year's Santa was supplied by Warminster Lions, but the identity of this year's Father Christmas is very much under wraps.

Town clerk Alan Richardson said "The lights will definitely be better than last year.

"It's impossible to get Christmas lights from anywhere in this country so we had to go as far as Germany. This year they have been extended further into Station Road and Silver Street. We wanted to do more in Church Street, but two of the lampposts were not stable enough.

In Westbury mayor Horace Prickett is expected to press the button at 6pm in front of the crowds gathered in the High Street.

A Christmas tree will also be unveiled in the Market Place, bought by the town council with donations from the Westbury and District Licensing Association. Pupils from Westbury Infants School will be singing Christmas carols.

Town clerk Les Fry said: "It is one of the most popular events in town. There are also great expectations for the arrival of Father Christmas. Wheelers (Westbury) Ltd erect and maintain the lights and always offer us generous support."

The Christmas tree was put into place by a crane donated by Lafarge cement works and delivered with help from the Rygor Group.

The lights will brighten up the High Street, Maristow Street, Edward Street, Warminster Road and Haynes Road. Mince pies, sweets and drinks have been donated by Coopers, Co-op and The Three Cooks.