THE Crazy Frog, Father Christmas, and Bertie and Bumble Bee of Burnley Football Club, will be joining Jake and Bella, of the Tweenies, for Burnley's Christmas lights switch-on Thursday, November 17.

Shells Belles cheerleaders, clowns, Bertie Bee and Bumble, and the popular frog, will be in town from 3pm to mingle, and entertain shoppers.

VIP guests 'Jake and Bella' will be doing walkabout appearances in the town centre from 3.20pm to 4pm, and again from 4.25pm to 5pm.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Burnley, Roger Frost and Pauline Frost-Hardwicke, and two competition winners, will complete the guest line-up on stage, where the switch-on and fireworks spectacular will take place around 6.45pm.

For the adults there will be samples of Benedictine in Yates Wine Lodge.

Lisa Durkin, town centre manager, said: "This year's event is targeted at families and has something for everyone.

"It's going to be another fantastic fun-packed evening of entertainment.

"A fantastic firework display will finish off the evening.

"We want to provide the local community with a superb evening of family fun to mark the start of Christmas shopping.''

The Christmas lights switch-on is organised by town centre management, and funded by sponsors including 'Benedictine', Charter Walk Shopping Centre, Better Burnley, and Burnley Council.

The event marks the beginning of late-night shopping on Thursdays in Burnley town centre, with shops staying open until 9pm from November 24 until Christmas.

Shops are also open from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.