Saltash will be ablaze with colour on Monday (December 13) when the town's Christmas Lights Even switches on in the Victoria Gardens - with a little help from BBC television weatherman Craig

The Mayor of Saltash, Mrs Mona Tomaszewska-Honywill, will lead an illuminated procession at 7pm from the Guildhall, up Fore Street, and on to Victoria Gardens where the grand opening of the event will take place.

Members of the Town Council and Saltash Chamber of Commerce will also take part in the procession, alongside residents of Saltash and representatives from the company which is one of the sponsors, Eurobell.

Craig Rich will meet the procession as it arrives and will flip the switch to turn on the town's Christmas lights. This will be followed by an open-air carol service led by the Town band and with children from local schools leading the singing.

Clerk to the Town Council, Marilyn Small, is hoping that Craig Rich will bring some good weather with him, and perhaps even a festive layer of snow.

She says; 'We are hoping that the crowds will turn out for the last Christmas lights switch-on of the millennium. If Craig Rich can bring some good weather with him it should help to make the 199 event the most successful this century.'

The fun starts at 5pm, when shoppers can jive to the swinging sound of Dave Hawke's Jazz band as they snap up some Christmas bargains. Punch and Judy will also be Fore Street from 5.20pm to keep the kids entertained.

Saltash Town band, a roaming magician , and the performer of a unique unicycle ballet will keep the fun flowing during late night shopping until 9pm when shops in Fore Street and the surrounding area will be open for Christmas shoppers.

Saltash Town Council and Saltash Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the 1999 Christmas Lights Event. Telephone Company Eurobell is sponsoring the town's Christmas tree.