THERE is a first on Saturday for Craven Arms and the Discovery Centre.

For the first time, this year Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, with the support of the Craven Arms Community Centre, will be turning on the Craven Arms Christmas Lights. The event will take place at the Centre on Saturday,

After the lights have been turned on people will be able to stay and shop until 8pm.

Children can meet Santa in his grotto from 3pm to 8pm and watch him turn on the lights at 5.30pm.

Tickets for Santa are £2.00 per child, to include a present and, should you wish to capture the special moment, a photographer will be on hand to take photos that can be framed for you to buy and take home.

There will be free crafts available all evening for families to enjoy alongside a face painter and children’s rides.

The Centre’s café will also be providing hot dogs, mulled wine, mince pies and other Christmas treats, and the Christmas shopping stalls will include hot chocolate.

There will also be Severn Hospice’s Christmas gifts, a cake stall and much more.

The Centre will light their Christmas tree out the front of the Centre at 5.30pm.

This and the tree in the town square were sponsored by Boyd’s Scaffolding.

Lights that will illuminate the tree have been provided by Craven Arms Town Council.

The Discovery Centre with its iconic grass roof says that it is proud to have been asked to host the event this year on behalf of the town.

“We were pleased to be asked to host the event this year and we are looking forward to putting it on for the community,” said Grant Wilson, manager of the Discovery Centre.

“We would like to thank the town council, the community centre and Boyd’s Scaffolding for their continued support.”