The boss of the team organising this year’s Sheerness Christmas lights parade says they are “making a special effort” to brighten up the town centre.

Details of the town’s Christmas lights switch on have just been announced.

It will take place between 4pm and 4.30pm on Saturday, November 29, with illuminations being installed around the Clock Tower, High Street and the Broadway.

John Nurden, chairman of Sheerness Town Team, which has organised festivities, said: “I’m hoping Father Christmas is going to perform the switch on for us.

“You can’t get anymore important than Santa and we’re just waiting for his letter to come back from the North Pole.

“We’re certainly going to make a special effort this year to brighten up the High Street for shoppers and its businesses.”

Mr Nurden said this year’s lights would be “better” than previous illuminations and claimed the charity, Sheerness Enhancement Association for Leisure (SEAL), responsible for the switch on, had “gone out and picked some really good ones”.

Following the switch on, a lantern parade and Christmas market is being held in the High Street on Saturday, December 13.

It takes place from 10am to 8pm with a number of festive-themed stalls expected to line the Town Centre.

The parade, which is organised by Big Fish Arts, the Sheerness-based drama group, starts at 4.30pm with Mr Nurden hoping shopkeepers will stay open late to take advantage of the seasonal visitors.

“We hope it will attract people from the mainland to come and see what Sheerness has to offer.

“It will also be good to see some Sheppey shoppers who have not been to Sheerness for a while.”

Mr Nurden said after his recent appointment as chairman that “it was good to know so many people out there still believe there’s life in Sheerness.”

A week before the parade, on Saturday December 6, a workshop is being held at the old council offices in Trinity Road where parents and children can make their own lanterns.

Mr Nurden said finer details regarding the town’s festivities will be finalised in the coming weeks.

He said although this year’s celebrations would be “low key” he hoped to attract a celebrity to perform the switch on in 2015.

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