A FESTIVE Facebook competition will see four lucky people chosen to switch on the Christmas lights in their town.

Dudley Council's resident Christmas elves Eric and Erica have been snapped out and about in Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen and Brierley Hill town centres.

The pictures will be uploaded to the local authority’s Facebook page – Dudley Borough – in the week leading up to each event and to be in with a chance of pressing the big button to illuminate the lights, all people have to do is like and share the post, and comment where they think the elves are.

Winners will be drawn at random and will be able to either switch the lights on themselves, or nominate a younger family member.

Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “We’ve got fun-packed family days planned in each of our four towns to celebrate switching on the Christmas lights and formally starting the festive season.

“We would urge people to come along and to enter the competition – it’s a great opportunity to play a starring role in a fantastic event.”

The first Christmas lights switch-on event will be in Halesowen on Saturday (November 18), taking place in Somers Square from 9am to 5pm.

The Facebook competition for Halesowen has already started and a winner will be announced tomorrow (Thursday, November 16).

The following week, on Saturday, November 25, the lights will be switched on in Stourbridge, with a day of entertainment along the High Street from 11am to 5pm.

The Facebook competition will start on Friday (November 17) and the winner will be revealed on Thursday, November 23.

On Saturday, December 2, the Market Place and Stone Street Square will play host to the big lights switch on in Dudley town centre, with entertainment from 11am to 5pm.

The event in Brierley Hill will centre around the Moor Centre from 11am to 5pm on Saturday December 9.

The Facebook competition for Dudley will start on Friday, November 24, with a new picture each day until the winner is announced on Thursday, November 30.

The Brierley Hill competition will start on Friday, December 1 and run until Thursday, December 7.

There will be a Christmas market at Dudley, while there will be children’s rides, a Santa’s grotto and live entertainment at both the Dudley and Brierley Hill switch-ons. The Dudley event is organised in conjunction with Tudor Markets.

Car parking will be free on council car parks in the four towns on light switch on days, and Black Country Radio will be broadcasting from the Halesowen and Stourbridge events.