VILLAGERS will come together tonight for an evening of celebrations to mark the switch-on of the Christmas lights.

Residents of Sherburn Village, near Durham City, will gather on the village green and from about 6.30pm the Salvation Army and pupils from Sherburn Village Primary School will entertain villagers with carols before the city's mayor, Jeff Lodge, switches the lights on, at about 6.45pm.

There will be more musical entertainment and refreshments in the community centre.

This is the third year the village has had its own Christmas lights, thanks to the parish council, Churches Together and the village community association.

The mayor was invited to turn on the lights because the village has been raising money for his annual charity appeal by selling memory baubles, which will be placed on the village Christmas tree. The baubles were donated by the parish council and have been on sale for £1 each.