A touch of Christmas magic will light up Swaffham when Father Christmas and his reindeer help celebrate the illumination of the town's festival decorations.

The fun will kick off at 6pm on Friday November 30, and Group Captain David Cooper, RAF Marham station commander, is due to formally switch on the lights at 6.15pm.

The town's business forum has held a series of events through the year, including bingo, hog roasts and a quiz, to fund the display, and also received a 20pc contribution from the town council.

Volunteers braved the wind and rain on Sunday morning to set up the lights ahead of the Friday switch on event, which will also include a bucking reindeer, late-night shopping, indoor craft fair and live music.

Chris Parsons, chairman of the Swaffham Business Forum, said: 'We are hoping for a repeat or even an improvement on last year. We were rather overwhelmed and we have planned for a slightly larger event and we have added more lights because of the fund raising we have done this year. A lot of the architectural masterpieces will be lit up.'

The town's Christmas celebrations will continue with a Christmas tree festival at St Peter and St Paul's Church, which will start with an Advent Carol Service at 6pm on Sunday December 2 and then run from December 3 to December 9 between 9am and 4pm, culminating with a Christmas tree auction at 4pm on Sunday December 9.

The town's third Friday evening market will take place under the Christmas lights on December 7.