WITH just over three weeks to Banbury's annual Christmas Lights Festival, the final arrangements have been made for a packed stage programme of music and entertainment - with Coronation Street actor Andy Whyment, who plays Kirk Sutherland, booked to top the bill and switch on the lights.

The festival, on Sunday, November 26, is one of the town's most popular events. Year after year, thanks to local sponsors, it has become bigger and better, and organisers believe that the 2006 show will be the best yet.

The stage entertainment will start at noon with FOX FM presenter Adam Ball compering an hour of music and comedy. At 1pm, Radio Horton will take over to introduce the rest of the afternoon's fun, games and Rock 'n' Roll.

First on stage will be the Yamazoo Saxophone Band - a rousing group who will be a bright opening act.

They will be followed by the Joanne Mills School of Dance, in which young dancers will perform their well-rehearsed routines.

The first of the Rock 'n' Roll acts will be Middleton Cheney schoolboy Ben Rogers, whose amazing impression of Slade's Noddy Holder saw him gain recognition on TV's Junior Stars In Their Eyes.

Andy Whyment will make his first appearance at around 2.15pm to pick out the winners of the Banbury Cake competitions.

Then there will be more comedy and great acting as the Banbury Cross Players perform excerpts from this year's pantomime. They will be followed by the Impromptu Choir, who will bring a Christmas feel to the proceedings.

The festival will Rock 'n' Roll its way through the rest of the afternoon. At 3.20pm, top Elvis impersonator Mark Green will take us through the career of "The King".

At 3.55pm, Banbury group The Blue Sapphires will perform Rock 'n' Roll hits from the 1950s - songs first made famous by the likes of Buddy Holly, Elvis, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins, and other top names of the era.

The Blue Sapphires will be followed on stage by Corrie's 'Kirk' who will sing a couple of numbers. Actor Andrew Whyment was runner-up earlier this year in the TV show Singing Soapstars.

The show will end with the lights switch-on and a firework display at 5pm.

The full programme and timings will be in the Christmas Lights programme, which will be delivered free with your Banbury Cake, in the week before the festival.