PETERSFIELD’S Christmas lights are to be switched on by the town mayor and a former member of the band A1, now a song writer and solo artist in his own right.

Singer Mark Read will join The Mayor, Cllr James Deane, on the stage in The Square to throw the light switch at 7pm on Friday (November 25).

The festivities start at 5pm, with school choirs performing on the stage outside St Peters Church

Petersfield Infants get the show under way, then at about 5.15pm Herne Junior School choir take centre stage.

Then approximately between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, The Petersfield School choir, the Rock Choir, and Petersfield Salvation Army Band will perform.

And there will be charity stalls and stands selling refreshments in The Square, and the pubs around it will be joining the fun.

Then after the light switch on, singer Mark Read -- who is leading this year’s cast of Santa Claus -- The Musical, at Portsmouth’s New Theatre Royal - joins Cllr Deane in lighting up the town, after which Mark will perform songs from the panto live on stage.

This year the lights are being provided by Petersfield Town Council and The Directory Group, and the switch on event organised by Ben Errey and Steve Jacobs of Petersfield Festivals.

For details visit the website www.petersfieldfest.com