BAH humbug! Ebenezer Scrooge will be in Stourbridge this Saturday (November 25) for the big Christmas lights switch-on.

But even his presence is not expected to cast a cloud over the mood as thousands of people are anticipated to turn out to celebrate the start of the festive season in the town.

The lights are set to be switched on by Coronation Street star Antony Cotton at 5pm in Crown Square (by Tesco) following a day of festive entertainment which will include a Christmas market, children’s rides, live music and facepainting.

Stourbridge-based storytelling theatre company Parable Arts will also be putting on a scene from its charity production of A Christmas Carol in the High Street.

The group is performing the classic tale by Charles Dickens, in aid of The Salvation Army, at the Bonded Warehouse this Friday (November 24) and Saturday (November 25), and again on December 15 and 16.

Jon Buckeridge, of Parable Arts, said: “We’re delighted to be playing a small part in what looks like a fantastic event in Stourbridge.

“We’ll be bringing Scrooge back to life, but we’ll make sure he doesn’t ruin the Christmas spirit.

“We’re really grateful to the council and to the other organisers for giving us and other groups such as choirs the chance to showcase ourselves, and if people like what they see then hopefully they will come and see us do the full thing at the Bonded Warehouse.”

Councillor Ian Kettle, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “We’ve got a fun-packed family day planned to celebrate the switching on of the Christmas lights in Stourbridge, which will formally mark the start of the festive season in the town.

“We would urge people to come along for a great day out.”

The day of festive fun has been organised by the council in conjunction with Stourbridge and District Chamber of Trade with sponsorship from the Ryemarket Shopping Centre, Talbots Solicitors, Mazda Stourbridge, Tudor Markets, Chicago’s and Handelsbanken.

Car parking will be free throughout the day at all council-owned car parks.