Shropshire towns to switch on Christmas lights

An X Factor star will be in Shrewsbury to switch on the Christmas lights tonight (Wednesday, November 24).

Lloyd Daniels will be at the switch-on for the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, with entertainment from 4pm.

At Telford Shopping Centre comedy legend Bernie Clifton joins X Factor finalist Treyc Cohen to turn on the lights tomorrow, with entertainment from 4pm.

Oswestry's lights will go on today, with school choirs in Festival Square from 3pm.

Shropshire football legend Bert Williams will help to flick the switch to turn on Shifnal's Christmas lights.

The lights are going up this year after town councillors pledged to spend up to £20,000 to ensure the award-winning display was not scuppered by red tape.

And the former Wolves and England goalkeeper will be doing the honours along with town mayor Ron Jowett at 6.45pm in Cheapside on Friday.

The 90-year-old, who lives in the town, received an MBE from the Queen earlier this month.

Mr Williams, who raised £100,000 for the Alzheimer's Society in memory of his wife Evelyn, got the award for services to football and charity.

There were fears there would be no festive lights for the first time in 25 years after a group of volunteers fell foul of health and safety rules. But the town council paid up to £20,000 to ensure the lights were in place.

The same night another former Wolves footballer, John Richards, will turn on Christmas lights in the Square in Much Wenlock at 6pm with late night shopping and live music. The town council and fundraisers helped raise £7,500 to foot the bill.

Sharon Clayton, town clerk, said: "We would like to add how very grateful we are to everyone who has been generous in our fundraising efforts.

"Special thanks should go to the Local Joint Committee, Sustainable Wenlock, local firms and the residents who have contributed by taking cheques to Penny Farthing, or putting money in collecting boxes in shops."

Bridgnorth lights will be switched on by mayor Val Gill at 4pm on Friday.

Madeley in Telford will also be switching on its lights on Friday with fairground rides and food in Anstice Square from 5pm with a lantern parade from the Forrester's Arms at 6pm.

The lights will be switched on by Telford MP David Wright at 6.30pm.

There will be an ice rink in Oakengates on the same day, with the lights switched on by stars of the town's pantomime at 5.30pm.

An artificial ice rink is to go up in Ludlow for three days before Christmas, it was announced today.

Ludlow Assembly Rooms is turning its auditorium into an ice rink for three days from December 21.

Dido Blench, from the venue, said: "It will be an eco-friendly rink made of state-of-the-art synthetic ice. The whole family can join in and there are boots to hire from child size 8 to adult size 12."

By Lisa Rowley