Peter Andre among stars in Shropshire switch-ons

The biggest name pushing the buttons in the county is undoubtedly 90s pin-up Peter Andre.

The Strictly Come Dancing star will turn on the lights at Telford Shopping Centre on November 19.

The Mysterious Girl singer and reality television star will be the guest of honour at the annual free event, which will also coincide with the opening of Santa's Grotto at the centre.

Tracy Hadley, marketing and events manager at Telford Shopping Centre, said: "The Christmas lights switch-on always pulls in the crowds.

"However this year's event is set to be bigger and better than ever, and we are all very excited that Peter Andre will be here in Telford to get the Christmas festivities off to a fantastic start. We are sure Peter is going to be a hit with people young and old and the countdown is now on to his arrival."

There will also be entertainment from 6pm until 8pm at Southwater.

A day earlier, on November 18, in Shrewsbury, stars from Theatre Severn's pantomime, Dick Whittington, and the Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Miles Kenny, are set to turn on the lights.

The event gets under way at 5pm, when bands, choirs and acoustic acts are set to fill the town with seasonal music to mark the start of late night shopping and the launch of the Christmas lights display.

Councillor Kenny said: "Christmas is so exciting and the switch-on always kick-starts the season with a bang."

The Christmas lights are being switched on in Newport on November 28 outside St Nicholas Church. A competition has been launched offering one lucky schoolboy or girl the chance to perform the big switch-on.

In the south of the county, in Ludlow the turning on of the Christmas lights is also on November 28 – and will be accompanied once more by the ever-popular Medieval Christmas fair and market. Traders will be selling seasonal gifts and food and drink, both in the grounds of Ludlow Castle and in the market square in front.

Plans are afoot in Oswestry for its biggest and best lights switch-on yet.

Events will be focused around Oswestry Christmas Live on December 4 and 5, which will include fairground rides, an ice rink and music stage, Christmas market, fireworks, a Santa's grotto and late-night shopping, as well as a Christmas parade through the town on the Saturday morning.

David Clough, markets and events manager for the council, said he was currently looking for an 'Oswestry VIP' to turn on the lights this year, and promised that children's choirs from local schools would be invited to perform again, as in previous years.

In Welshpool, the Christmas lights switch-on will be held on December 4, with a traditional parade through the town beforehand.

A lantern parade will be the highlight of the launch of Christmas in Whitchurch. It will form part of a day of events on November 28, including an outdoor market and entertainment.