New Christmas market among city's festive plans

A 49ft (15m) Christmas tree will be delivered from Kielder Forest in Northumberland to go next to Leicester's Clock Tower

A new Christmas market in Leicester will form part of the city centre's festive celebrations this year.

Leicester City Council has confirmed that 16,000 low-energy lamps will start going up this week, with about 20 city centre streets set to be decorated, as well as Town Hall Square.

The process will take about four weeks, with work being carried out early in the morning and at weekends to minimise disruption, the authority said.

The new Christmas market will be introduced in Gallowtree Gate, running from 14 November to 29 December and offering treats, gifts and festive food.

A 49ft (15m) Christmas tree is set to be delivered in the second week of November and will be placed next to the clock tower, ahead of the switch-on event on 20 November from 17:00 GMT.

BBC Radio Leicester presenter Ady Dayman will host the light switch-on event with The Apprentice star Virdi Singh Mazaria from the Haymarket balcony.

Divina De Campo, runner-up of RuPaul's Drag Race and star of this year's pantomime at De Montfort Hall, will join them for the switch-on moment at 18:30 along with Jack Ballard, the panto dame.

In Town Hall Square, Christmas trees and a traditional nativity scene will be installed, as well as a new light installation.

There will be traditional brass bands and choirs performing there on the day that the lights are switched on, between 17:00 and 20:00.

A funfair will also be held in Humberstone Gate and a 15-piece nutcracker marching band.

The 115ft (35m) tall Wheel of Light is also set to return to Jubilee Square from 8 November until the new year, along with the all-weather ice rink, which arrived on 5 December.