FAMILIES are invited to go along to the Christmas lights switch-on in Uxbridge on Sunday, November 23.

The Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Catherine Dann, will be turning on the Christmas tree lights outside the tube station at 4.30pm.

There will be a parade through the town centre from 3.30pm, organised by Uxbridge Forward in conjunction with Pavilions and INTU shopping centres.

This year, the council has teamed up with the police, local businesses and the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce to offer a gift-giving service for children in care.

Gift tags with a request, for example to buy a gift for a boy aged 4-8, will be attached to the railings around the Christmas tree for kind-hearted residents to take and buy a relevant gift in return.

Gifts are to be taken to Uxbridge police station to be stored and the borough social services team will ensure they are distributed fairly.

The council has invested £98,500 in this year's festive lights.

The mayor will be switching on the Christmas lights in Hayes town centre on Wednesday, November 26, outside St Anselm's Church, Station Road.

The Schools' Community Choir, Hayes, will perform a short concert in the church from 4pm. A small number of children will then join the mayor outside on the church forecourt at 4.30 to switch on the lights.

The choir is made up of children from Hayes Park, St Catherine, Minet Junior, Dr Triplett's and Yeading Junior schools.