WANSTEAD High Street will be lit up from Monday when the Christmas lights are officially turned on.

Mr and Mrs Santa Claus will be arriving in a Rolls Royce, as all other reindeers are fully booked, to turn on the lights at 4pm.

The Christmas duo will be giving away chocolates to the first 100 primary school children.

The lights have been made possible after Redbridge Council's area one committee agreed to give the Wanstead Business Partnership £2,500 from this year's discretionary budget. This sum went towards the funding for the lights.

Wanstead High Street will also be having its first late night shopping experience on Monday evening, when Nice Croissant will be offering a complimentary coffee or cappuccino with selected pastries from 5pm to 8pm.