PEEBLES is already preparing to be all lit up for the festive period.

The big switch on of the Christmas lights will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, December 3.

The event will start at 6pm with the Parish Church Bells ringing out, and at 6.30pm the funfair will begin.

As usual there will be late night shopping, Peebles Pipe and Silver Bands, and Christmas Market stalls.

The repair, replacement and improvement of the lights costs a great deal of money and the organisers are once again indebted to Stobo Castle for their continued support. They are also grateful to the many businesses, shops and individuals in Peebles who help in so many ways.

The printing of the Christmas cards this year has been sponsored by Castle Warehouse who will be stocking a supply in the Cook Shop and in the Homeware Department.

The other outlets are stalwart supporters Tony Storey Optician, the Tontine Hotel, and Whitie's Books & Craft Shop, and by Scissor Happy in the Northgate. Tony Storey Optician and Whitie's will also sell baubles on behalf of the organisers. They come in four colours this year - gold, green, red and silver and all bear the Peebles crest. At £3 each they are an ideal gift for friends and family (and yourself!)

The cards include vintage ones depicting fun on a frozen Tweed in times gone by (provided by Colin Veitch), a lovely view of Peebles Old Parish Church seen through snow covered trees (photograph by Colin Veitch), an aerial shot looking down on last year’s Christmas Market in the High Street (photograph by John Swanson), and an unusual version of the same market taken by Emma Scott using a camera with a long exposure. There are two of each card in a pack of ten, and the cost is £5 per pack.