A town that has been clamouring for a proper festive celebration is about to have its Christmas wish come true.

On Saturday, Snodland will turn out in force for a day of partying.

Events have been organised by the scouts, the town council, the chamber of commerce and the United Church.

The Scouts and church are holding Christmas markets from 10am. There will be a Christmas tree and Santa’s grotto will be open for the children from 2pm.

Snodland Choral Society will lead the carol singing in the High Street outside Alldays from 4.30pm, with Father Christmas and the Mayor and Mayoress of Tonbridge and Malling arriving by sleigh to perform the lights switch-on ceremony at 5pm.

But the star guest will be 20-month-old Lilly Beckett of Malling Road, Snodland, whose life was saved in September after her father James donated part of his liver in place of her own.

Lilly will present the Mayoress with a bouquet and afterwards there will be a collection for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation.

Lilly was born with biliary atresia, a condition that would have killed her without a transplant operation.