Warriors to Switch On Lights

Wigan Warriors stars Richie Mathers and Darrell Goulding will be switching on Wigan Christmas Lights on Thursday evening at Market Place in Wigan.

Mathers, who flew in from the Gold Coast last week will be joined by local lad Goulding and a magical guest for the switch on which is set to take place at approximately 6.50pm.

Town centre manager Mike Matthews said:

"This year it will be good family entertainment that will appeal to a wider audience, something a bit different that people will enjoy."

An extra £10,000 will also be spent on more lights in Hallgate and Standishgate, bringing the total forked out on Wigan's Christmas 'decs' to £30,000 in the last two years.

Other entertainment kicks off at 5 pm with a DJ, carols from St William’s Primary and St Peter’s High Schools, street dancing and the Wigan’s Got Talent winner Scott Chapman.

A second extravaganza will take place on Sunday 25 November, when some very special visitors, who have come all the way from the North Pole will be dropping into Wigan. Father Christmas will be taking a break from his hectic schedule to lead a parade, with his reindeer through the town centre. The parade will feature a number of characters including Percy the Penguin, Frosty the Snowman and Snowy the Polar Bear as well as the Walkabout Warrior Girls, Max and Miss Wigan Warrior Gillian Battersby.

The parade, which starts at Mesnes Park at 1.00pm, has been made possible after the Grand Arcade teamed up with the Galleries and town centre management to fund the event.

Grand Arcade manager John Sanson said they had brought in one of the country's leading firms to light up the mall for the first time. He said:

"It's our first Christmas and we wanted to do something special. We've a superb scheme planned with lots of lighting effects." Mr Matthews said: "We're trying to put on a number of events so there's something for everyone.

"There will be lots going on this year."