THE Christmas lights will be switched on in Heswall tonight as part of a festive celebration aimed at encouraging residents to make better use of their local shops and businesses.

The switch-on takes place at 6pm in front of Heswall Library. Providing the entertainment will be singers from the Church of the Good Shepherd and St Peter’s Primary School with renditions of popular Christmas Carols.

The event has been organised by the recently-reformed Heswall and District Business Association (HDBA), with the support of the Heswall Arts Festival, the Church of the Good Shepherd and members of the local community.

Last week independent traders in Wallasey Village organised the first ever Christmas Night. 

Karl Mullins, Chair of the HDBA, said: "It is essential that businesses and residents come together to support events like this as it helps to keep the community alive.

"If we aren't careful, village centres like Heswall will be over-run by large multi-national companies and independent retailers will disappear forever."

Staging the Christmas Event links to a wider Action Plan, put together by village traders in association with the Council, aimed at addressing some of the reasons why local people don’t use their high street as much as they used to.

Cllr Pat Hackett, Wirral Council Cabinet member for Economy, said: "Christmas is such an important time of year for all businesses and there is a lot of competition out there for consumers to choose where they spend their money.

"With this event, traders in Heswall are reaching out to residents and demonstrating just how attractive and diverse the range of shops and businesses are right on their doorstep.”