ABOUT 300 residents from a Southampton estate will be lighting up the city centre at a

Christmas lantern parade tomorrow.

Marchers will leave from Civic Centre Road at 4pm before travelling down Above Bar Street and through the precinct, then gathering in front of the Bargate at 4.45pm with a festive performance.

The Christmas parade will feature the 90-strong Thornhill Carnival Team, who took to the streets of Thornhill during the neighbourhood's summer festival earlier this year.

The local residents will once again wear colourful costumes that they helped to create and are based around the themes of nature and the elements, including a 30ft Chinese caterpillar costume operated by 20 volunteers.

All of the costumes will be illuminated during the parade.

Volunteers taking part in the event range from just 18 months old to a 71-year-old.

Carnival characters will also be joined by up to 200 local volunteers from the Thornhill area, carrying lanterns.

Together, they will kick-start the city's Christmas atmosphere and get shoppers in the festive mood.