SETTLE is preparing to be turned into a winter wonderland with the turning on of its Christmas lights in the Market Place on Saturday, December 1.

Organised by Settle Rotary Club, with help from Settle Stories, and the town council, there will be plenty going on all afternoon, with Santa in his grotto, and the lights themselves being switched on at 5pm.

Live entertainment will include singing from Tom Muldoon, Morris Dancing, carols from Giggleswick and Settle primary schools, African storytelling and drumming from Usifu Jalloh.

There will also be fireworks, a family disco at Settle Social Club, from 5.30pm, charity stalls and free parking at Greenfoot Car Park.

Bob Hargreaves, Rotary club president, said:“I hope everyone will take advantage of Santa’s schedule to come and see him. He will be touring the area or at Booths supermarket on Saturdays in December.. This is the occasion when we collect for local charities, individuals and good causes.”

Santa will be touring on the following days, at 5pm, unless stated otherwise: Austwick, Monday, December 10 at 6pm; Clapham, Monday, December 10 at 5pm; Giggleswick village, Thursday, December 13 at 5pm; Giggleswick, The Mains, Friday, December 14; Hellifield, railway station and north of the railway bridge, Tuesday, December 4; Hellifield: south of the railway bridge, Wednesday December 5; Helwith Bridge, Monday, December 17 (after his visit to Horton); Horton, Monday, December 17; Langcliffe, Thursday, December 20; Long Preston: Monday, December 3; Rathmell, Tuesday; December 11; Stackhouse, Friday, December 14; Stainforth, Monday, December 17 - 6.30pm (after his visit to Horton and Helwith Bridge); Wigglesworth, Tuesday, December 11 at 6pm (after his visit to Rathmell).

Santa will visit Booth’s Settle supermarket on Saturday, December 8 and on Saturday, December 15, between 10am and 4pm.

He will be in Upper Settle and Longdale Avenue on Thursday, December 6; Mill Close and Northfields on Friday, December 7; Duke Street, Cammock Lane and Kings Mill on Tuesday, December 18; Townhead and Church Street, on Wednesday, December 19.