Organisers of this year’s Sudbury Christmas fair are promising a “bigger and better event”, with plenty of attractions for teenagers.

The fair this Friday, which will see the town’s festive lights switched on for the season, will feature fairground rides, yuletide food and craft stalls and a French market.

From 4pm, children can have a go at ice skating on a synthetic rink on Market Hill. There will also be a circus workshop, Santa in his grotto and a chance to meet ‘Elsa’ from the film Frozen.

Phoenix Suffolk Community Marchers will provide entertainment in East Street from 5pm and there will be a spectacular display from Fireflow later in the evening. Around 18 stalls selling French produce will be set up in North Street.

Meanwhile, St Peter’s Church will house 26 craft, gift and charity stalls, with a further 34 outside the church.

Visitors will be able to shop while being serenaded by Sudbury Choral Society and its programme of seasonal songs. The official light switch-on will take place in Old Market Place at 6.30pm.

In the build up, the Salvation Army Band will play Christmas carols and then Sudbury mayor Jack Owen will switch-on the tree lights, assisted by Pot Kilm Primary School student Louie Arnold, who won the competition to design the mayor’s Christmas card this year.

A wide range of festive treats from mince pies to hot chestnuts will be served throughout the evening, which will run until 9pm.

The town council’s events organiser, Teresa Elford, said: “It has taken a lot of hard work and planning but we have managed to secure several sponsors this year and it promises to be a really great event.

“We have introduced a lot more to interest teenagers, such as the bigger fairground rides on Market Hill and we have the synthetic ice rink for younger children and a number of smaller rides.

“As long as the weather is kind to us, it should be a wonderful evening.”

See more Christmas light switch on events here