A HOST of festive activities will get Bewdley's Christmas underway with a bang this weekend.

Town mayor Carol Gittins has announced Bewdley's carnival princesses, who helped decorate her parlour with Christmas trimmings, will be on hand for the switching on of the town lights at 5.30pm on Saturday. Carol Gittins decorates her mayor's parlour with Christmas trimmings with help from Bewdley Carnival princesses Imogen Foreman, Gina Williams, Amelia Holbeche and Amy Richardson.

They will be helped by five-year-old Kidderminster girl Victoria Price. She captured the hearts of the nation when she appeared on BBC's Children In Need to raise awareness of chronic juvenile arthritis.

But immediately before this there will be a procession of lantern-carrying Beaver Scouts dressed in Victorian and Christmas-themed fancy dress over the bridge.

There will be a charity market on Load Street car park following the lights switch on at 5.30pm.

And earlier on Saturday, from 10am until 1pm, there will be a coffee morning and charity stalls in the town hall to benefit Mrs Gittins' chosen charities, Dial-a-Ride and Age Concern's minibus fund.

Last night saw the first of what will be weekly charity shopping evenings in Bewdley in the run up to Christmas.

Cat Action Trust, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Age Concern, RSPCA and RNLI were all boosted by the evening, which saw a host of town shops donate 10 per cent of their takings.

Bewdley Scout and Guide band provided entertainment for shoppers.