TOWNS across west Wiltshire will be marking the start of the Christmas season with lights switch-on events later this week.

  • In Trowbridge the festive displays will be illuminated on Saturday at 6.30pm.

Entertainment including choirs and singers will be laid on between 10am and 5pm. Santa will arrive at 6pm led by a lantern parade on his sleigh. He will be in his grotto from 6.30-8pm giving out presents to children along with his Elf helpers. The entry fee is £2.

There will be an ice rink in the town centre on Saturday from 10am-10pm and Sunday from 10am-4pm. Entry costs £3 and bookings can be made in advance and on the day.

There will also be real reindeer on site between 10am and 4pm on Saturday.

In Fore Street, a Christmas Village will be built along the lines of Bath's Christmas Village and stalls will be in place from Saturday until next Friday.

The official switch-on will be performed by the mayor of Trowbridge Nick Blakemore.

  • Meanwhile Bradford on Avon kicks off its festivities with a switch-on at 6pm on Friday.

As well as the illuminations, there will be community stalls, late night shopping until 8pm, Santa's grotto, raffle and lots of festive food and drink. There will also be late night shopping until 8pm on December 6, 13 and 20 and shops will be open on Sundays in December.

  • The festive season also starts in Westbury on Friday. Victorian-themed family fun kicks off in the High Street at 6pm when mayor Charlie Finbow presses the switch to turn on the lights, with a little help from the three winners of a children's Christmas card competition.

There will also be fairground rides and entertainment from choirs and performers, and a special appearance by Father Christmas.

  • Melksham will be decorated in a frosty selection of stars and icicles for this year's Christmas light switch-on, which takes place in Market Place on Saturday.

There will be a Christmas fair, which will include stalls selling refreshments and gifts, cards and jewellery.

The fair starts at 2pm in the Assembly Hall. The 10-second countdown will begin at 4pm in the Market Place.

Youngsters have been busy designing Christmas cards and the lights lining the High Street will be switched on by the winner.

Stalls will be manned by community groups and dozens of Scouts and Cubs will attend the ceremony to raise money for their groups.

Father Christmas will be making an appearance and choirs from local churches will be performing songs and carols. Market Place will be closed to motorists all afternoon.

  • In Warminster there will be lots of glow but little festive cheer when the Christmas lights are switched on this year. The town lights will be illuminated from 4pm on Saturday but the concerns over disruptions caused by the roadworks have meant locals will have to go without the usual festive celebrations this year.