THE TOWNS of Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade are getting ready to shine this weekend when their Christmas lights are switched on.

Tomorrow Royal Wootton Bassett will welcome actress Felicity Montagu, who plays Caroline in Doc Martin and was Perpetua in Bridget Jones’s Diary, to switch on the lights at the Town Hall at 6pm.

Mayor Linda Frost said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Felicity to Royal Wootton Bassett. We are really excited that she will be sharing in our celebrations this year.”

Following the switch-on there will be a carol service followed by a display from the younger children at Wootton Bassett Dance school at 6.30pm.

Visitors can also pop into Wootton Bassett Theatre where there will be a free Victorian Christmas live event in the Courtyard from 4pm to 9pm.

Visitors to the High Street will also be able to browse for presents when the shops open until late, and Father Christmas will be on hand to welcome children in his grotto.

Hazel Newson, Chair of the Royal Wootton Bassett Business Association, said: “The Christmas Lights and late night shopping is always a fabulous event.”

During the evening there will also be more than 30 stalls for shoppers to browse, as well as a brass band, a Rodeo Reindeer at The Angel, Santa’s Elves at Scarrot’s Fair, fair rides, face painting at Maslin’s, a Kaya Drum workshop, a children’s entertainer and a special circus skills workshop.

Drivers to the event will have to make separate parking arrangements, since a road closure will operate on the High Street from 5pm until 9pm.

Cricklade will follow suit on Saturday, when the town’s lights are switched on in the High Street from 5.30pm.

The Cricklade Community Lights Team have been working with Cricklade Scouts to bring together the annual event.