Star appeal will be brought to the switch on of Tenterden's new Christmas lights when TV and radio presenter Penny Smith flicks a switch on Sunday.

She will be on the Town Hall balcony to perform the ceremony, which will light up almost 100 trees on the town’s shops, the Rotary Club tree and 10 of the big High Street trees.

A team of electricians and tree surgeons have been putting up the lights this week.

The work was the culmination of a campaign led by Tenterden Chamber of Commerce, backed by the town council, and involving the whole community, to replace the old lights which went missing a year ago.

The chamber has organised fundraisers such as quiz nights, concerts and car washes, with financial backing from the town council, which raised £15,000 to buy the new lights.

The ceremony is at 4.30pm on Sunday.

The new lights will provide a festive backdrop to Tenterden’s annual late night shopping on Friday, December 6.