SANTA Claus can sleep easy tonight after an 11th hour intervention saved the biggest party in Halesowen's history - tomorrow's Christmas lights switch on.

Last year more than 43,000 people descended on the town for a day of festivities but this Saturday's event was in danger of being cancelled due to a £3,000 cash shortfall.

However, with the heartbreaking decision to pull the plug just hours away Halesowen gaming company mFortune Bingo donated £3,000 and now it is all systems go.

Event organiser Wayne Edwards, from Halesowen Chamber of Trade, said: "We were so worried that all our hard work would be for nothing but at the last minute mFortune Bingo stepped in and saved the day.

"This is going to be the biggest party in Halesowen's history and we are all overjoyed it is going ahead, we have got Halesowen tennis star Jordanne Whiley MBE to turn on the lights so it will be a day to remember."

The Halesowen Christmas lights switch-on is the biggest of its kind in the borough with live music, a craft market, funfair and entertainment throughout the day.

Mr Edwards said: "We have something to be proud of in Halesowen, our lights switch-on event is bigger than Stourbridge and Dudley's put together and to cancel the event because of our budget being cut by Dudley Council would have been a tragedy.

"But on Saturday thousands of people choosing Halesowen over Birmingham, why go to the big city when we have everything here and a nicer atmosphere."

The fun will start at 11am with family entertainment on the stage, the Christmas craft and food market running through the town from 9am until 5pm and St John's Church's fair runs from 11am to 5pm with tower tours throughout the day and Father Christmas will be in his sleigh thanks to Halesowen and Rowley Regis Rotary Club.

The finale will be at 5pm when Britain's most successful tennis player, Halesowen's own Jordanne Whiley MBE, flicks the all important switch to turn on the town's "best ever" Christmas lights.

Simon Wilson, mFortune Bingo's managing director, said: "Being a Black Country born and bred company we are committed to Halesowen and could not let such a great event fall by the wayside.

"As one of the town's biggest employers, with 200 workers, we are very much part of this community and we are all looking forward to getting the party started."

Mr Edwards added: "The Halesowen Chamber of Trade would like to thank the following sponsors for supporting the switch on: Zion Christian Church, Sandvik, Less4officesupplies, Halesowen & Rowley Regis Rotary Club, The Cornbow, BB Price, Bescot Markets, GMB, BB Price, Lapel House, Less4ink, Harris Steel, Smiths Electrical, Dancers Chapman & Myers, Victorian Flower Stall and Ruskin Developments."