SANTA Claus will swap his sleigh for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to start Christmas festivities in Blackburn.

Father Christmas will arrive in King William Street tomorrow in the car that appeared in the smash-hit children's film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which starred Dick van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes.

The car will be on display outside JJB Sports for the day. Santa will make his way to his grotto in Victoria Court where he will be from 11am.

A programme of entertainment for all the family has been arranged. Clowns, stiltwalkers and jugglers will mingle with shoppers while Punch and Judy shows and face painting amuse the kids.

The build-up to the Christmas lights switch on will start at 3.30pm when Rock FM begin their roadshow on King William Street with DJs and a live band.

The deputy mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Coun Florence Oldfield and Deputy Mayoress Ann Sharples, will be joined on stage by Blackburn Rovers players at 5.30pm to switch on the lights and a laser and light sound show.

Victor Parfrement, Blackburn shopping centre manager, said: "It will be a great start to the Christmas festivities, with a whole day of entertainment in the town on Saturday.

"From the arrival of Father Christmas to the lights switch on at 5.30pm it's a fun filled day for all the family."

For late night shopping, the shopping centre is open until 9pm every Wednesday until Christmas and also every Thursday in December.

A further Christmas highlight will be a spectacular firework display in the cathedral grounds on Wednesday, December 15 at 6.30pm.

The pantomime at King George's Hall is Cinderella On Ice, which opens on Monday, December 27.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.