Around 500 pupils from 10 schools will take to the streets of Gravesend tomorrow (Friday) as the Christmas countdown begins.

Festivities commence at 3.45pm in Community Square and will include a Jack Frost-themed mime artist, Santa and his helpers on stilts, Bloco Fogo Samba, Brass Volcanoes and the Drumming Santas, who will combine Christmas tunes, Bhangra and African drumming to wow the crowds.

Mayor Cllr Harold Craske will then lead the lantern parade, which will start at 4.30pm when the Christmas tree lights will be switched on.

It will head along Windmill Street, New Road and through St George’s Shopping Centre before finishing at Gravesham Borough Market.

As it winds through the town, the lights will be switched on and the celebrations will climax with a performance featuring the stars of this year’s Woodville pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

The Gravesham Festival of Christmas Lights will run between 3.45pm and 5.30pm and has been organised by Cohesion Plus, Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Gravesham council supported by Arts Council England.

Artistic director of Cohesion Plus Gurvinder Sandher said: “This will launch the borough’s Christmas celebrations and we hope the community will come out to support us.

“A lot of hard work has taken place in the build up and we believe it will be an excellent showcase of how the arts can bring communities together, regardless of faith and background.”

Children from Cecil Road Primary, Holy Trinity Primary, Ifield School, Kings Farm Primary, Painters Ash Primary, Riverview Infant Junior School, St Botolph’s Primary, St George's Secondary, St John's Primary and Westcourt Primary will be taking part.