RECORD numbers of people are set to flock to Halesowen on Saturday for the festivities to mark the switching on of this year's Christmas lights.

Revellers are also expected to descend on Cradley Heath High Street on the same day to see the town's lights being switched on.

The Halesowen Chamber of Trade have organised the event on Saturday and claim the lights will be the biggest and best ever seen in the town.

Chairman Wayne Edwards said: "This will be a fantastic event which will hopefully put Halesowen town centre back on the map.

"Last year over 40,000 people turned up to see the lights being switched on so we are expecting even more to turn up on Saturday.

"The new lights are incredible and the live entertainment we have organised throughout the day will really make the streets come alive."

There will be fire eaters, angle grinders, stilt walkers and a nine foot Christmas Party Robot as well asOlaf the enchanted snowman from Disney's film Frozen.

However, the Chamber is still trying to raise money to cover the costs of the event and the new lights.

Mr Edwards added: "We still need to get to the £15,000 mark and we are a few thousand away from that at the moment but will hopefully scrape through in the next few days.

"We have been disappointed traders in the town centre have not helped more with the fundraising as our main sponsors are from outside the town centre."

Dudley Council donated £5,000 to the fund and Sandvik, CSCM IT Solutions, Street Bike, Nicklins, Clarity Education, Full Range Print Solutions, Less4ink, Chapmans Electrical and Asda amongst others donated the remainder.

The Chamber is requesting businesses in Halesowen donate £50 or £100 towards the new lights. The fun starts at 11am and includes drama groups, singers, dancers and ukulele players and the big switch on is at 5pm.

Santa will join Sandwell's Deputy Mayor Councillor Shirely Hosell for a family Christmas lights event in Cradley Heath on Saturday.

The free event will include a funfair, stalls and the Blackheath Ukulele Collective.

It will be held in Cradley Heath High Street on Saturday from 3pm-7.30pm, with the lights switched on by Deputy Mayor Councillor Shirely Hosell, assisted by Santa Claus, at 6pm.

Cradley Heath Traders Association is helping organise and fund this year's event.

Traders Association chair Mandy Ratcliffe said: "Cradley Heath traders are pulling together for the good of the town."

Councillor Barbara Price, town lead member for Rowley Regis, added: “It will be great fun for the whole family.

"We've got a big fun fair and entertainment for everyone so I hope lots of people will come along and join in.”