CHRISTMAS lights are coming back in Upper Parkstone – marked by the first switching-on ceremony anyone can remember.

A year’s worth of fundraising and organising by Ashley Road traders has brought illuminations back to the area’s high street after a long absence.

Now Santa himself is to preside over the switching-on of the lights tomorrow, outside St John’s Church, as part of an evening of festive fun running from 6pm-8pm.

Richard Wilson of Bookworm Books, chairman of Ashley Road Traders Association, said even elderly customers were unable to remember Parkstone having a switching-on ceremony before.

“One lady said in all her 60 or 70 years in Parkstone, she’s never known anything like it. She’s over the moon that somebody’s finally done something to brighten up the area,” he said.

“This is pulling the traders together as well as the community itself,” he added. “We’re hoping for a good turnout.”

Saturday’s events will include entertainment from a choir of 59 children from Sylvan First School, the big band Swing Unlimited and solo singer Ria, from Wild and Co barbers.

Mince pies and hot chestnuts will be available and Santa will switch on the lights at 7pm. If the weather is bad, celebrations will take place inside the church.

The event will cap a year of events put on by traders in an effort to lift the Ashley Road area.

A successful window-dressing competition for the Diamond Jubilee helped get the Christmas lights fundraising going, along with an award-winning float in Bournemouth Carnival parade. Waitrose has contributed £250 to the illuminations fund.

A cross-party working group of councillors has been set up to consider ways to rejuvenate the Ashley Road area and the road is in line for more than £1million towards improvements from a government transport grant.

Penn Hill councillor Xena Dion has donated the road’s Christmas tree and a host of traders have chipped in to make Saturday’s event possible.

Waitrose, Iceland and Co-Op have all donated mince pies, greengrocer Long’s provided the chestnuts, while Bookworm Books and Oswald Bailey will be roasting them.

Let’s Party is bringing soup and Robin’s Cafe providing cake, while St John’s Church is providing mulled wine, tea and coffee, and Avex Press has printed flyers.