A giant white witch standing more than 16 feet high will be the centerpiece for Cheltenham's Christmas lights switch-on this year.

The puppet will travel through the town centre as part of a dramatic illuminated parade on Saturday November 24.

Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) and Cheltenham Borough Council have also invested in more lights this year, which will see illuminations in four extra streets in the town.

The show is based around the story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in which the White Witch tries to stop Santa from having Christmas. The Cheltenham event will see her trying to stop Father Christmas from turning on the lights.

The show will start at 4.30pm in Imperial Gardens and then proceed to Montpellier, back down the Promenade, along High Street to The Brewery Quarter and Cambray Place and then back through Boots Corner to Imperial Gardens for the thrilling showdown.

BID Director Kevan Blackadder said: "We're very excited about the switch-on, which we think will provide a very different experience for people in Cheltenham.

"I'm also pleased that we have been able to extend the areas covered by lights this year. We're keen to expand still further in future years."

The switch-on will happen two days after the popular Christmas Market opens on The Promenade on Thursday November 22. The market will run until Saturday December 15, with Cotswold Markets then staging its Arts & Crafts Market from Tuesday December 18 until Monday December 24.