Thousands of people will pack into Dereham Market Place on Sunday afternoon as local hero Craig Richardson presses the button to switch on the town's Christmas lights.

He lost part of his leg while serving in Afghanistan but despite that completed the London Marathon earlier this year wearing his carbon-fibre blade.

Craig, 25, who was serving with the RAF Regiment, and town mayor Linda Monument will perform the switch-on at 4.30pm.

During the afternoon there will be a range of stage entertainment, getting under way at 2pm. Around Market Place there will be stalls run by local charities, and Father Christmas will be in the Assembly Rooms.

The Norfolk Emergency Services Choir will start the stage programme at 2pm, and Dereham Town Singers have two slots – at 2.45 and 4pm.

Local singer Keeley Rayner will perform at 3.15pm, and, after the lights have gone on, Dereham band Shock!Hazard will round off the afternoon.

The Bull pub in High Street is helping people to carry on the festivities after the switch-on with a free disco from 6-11pm.