DAZZLING lights will brighten more areas of a town this year after a cash boost.

Residents and visitors to Stockton Borough will see more Christmas illuminations than ever before following an £80,000 bonus from sponsorship.

Tomorrow sees the big Christmas lights switch-on in Stockton town centre's High Street, at 6pm, when Santa arrives in the Batmobile.

There will be lights on the main access road to Ingleby Barwick, along Mitchell Avenue and the roundabout in Thornaby as well as Allensway and Thornaby Town Hall.

In Stockton, as well as the High Street, there will be illuminations along Finkle Street and Prince Regent Street.

Billingham town centre will be alight with colour along with The Causeway and The Green. The High Street in Yarm will have a large Christmas tree and lights.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "Having Christmas lights in our town centres provides a warm, festive welcome to residents, shoppers and visitors and gaining sponsorship from various sources has enabled us to increase the quality and quantity of illuminations."