Christmas celebrations will begin with a bang at High Street this weekend as Barry boxer Lee Selby turning on the lights.

The local lightweight is set to do the honours at 7pm on Friday following an afternoon of fun for all the family.

From 4pm, there will be street entertainment including bands and other musical acts appearing on stage, while Santa is also due to pay a visit on his sleigh.

Barry's High Street has been hailed as one of the best areas in Britain for independent shops, ranking in the top five, with around 91 per cent of retailers there not part of a chain.

Phil Chappell, Vale of Glamorgan Council Operational Manager for Regeneration and Planning, said: "We enjoyed a tremendous Christmas event on Holton Road last weekend, now the focus shifts to High Street and an occasion that promises to be just as entertaining.

"As well as live music and Santa, we have Barry's own Lee Selby turning on the lights. Hopefully people will turn out in their numbers and sample some of the unique and special shops we have in this part of the town."

This event comes seven days after the Barry Christmas Weekender, where Ruth Jones, aka Nessa Shanessa Jenkins from BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey, turned on the lights.

There was also a 40-stall strong Christmas Market, entertainment and an open-air showing of Home Alone in Central Park.

Cowbridge's Christmas event also took place last weekend, when a three-day festive market (Friday to Sunday) was staged in the Duke of Wellington Car Park and the annual Reindeer Parade took place on the Sunday.

On Saturday, a lantern parade and a Christmas market will lead up to the lights switch-on at 6pm in Llantwit Major.

Barry High Street will also be running a series of late-night opening evenings in the run up to Christmas providing even more opportunity to find the perfect gift.