The festive period will be bigger and better this year with a new Christmas fair aimed at bringing shoppers into town.

Celebrations will centre around the big switch on of Sittingbourne’s Christmas lights, which this year will take place on Saturday, November 30.

The closure of the high street to vehicles will be extended to begin at 9am.

The Christmas fair will open to the public at 10.30am and will feature a range of attractions including artists, bakers and various trade stalls.

A stage will be erected for local bands, musicians and a choir to perform throughout the day and street entertainers will be walking through the crowds.

Santa Claus will then be on parade at 3pm, before switching on the Christmas lights at 4pm, with the help of two pupils from Minterne Junior School.

Catherine Pratt, of the Sittingbourne Christmas Lights Association, said: “I think we need something like this in Sittingbourne.

“We are excited this year. The planning is all going well and everyone we speak to seems to be really keen on having a Christmas fair.

“By having the fair continually through the day rather than a switch on will definitely bring people into the town.”

She added the lights will be switched on earlier so that shops are still open and stores will have the opportunity to come out onto the street during the fair.

The lights cost £13,000 to run from the end of November to January 6, when they are turned off following the 12th day of Christmas.

Funding is usually raised through slay runs in December when Father Christmas knocks on doors for donations.

A fill the bag scheme will also be used to generate cash.

Anyone with unwanted clothing, towels or bed linen can put them to the lights association which in turn can sell them for a certain amount of money per bag.

Any suitable items will then be handed on to the Kent Air Ambulance charity shop in Sittingbourne to sell.

Anyone interested in keeping the annual display going, either with financial help or by volunteering, is advised to search for Save Sittingbourne Christmas Lights on Facebook for more information.