A SPECTACULAR touch of summer will be coming to Eastleigh on Saturday to launch the town centre's Christmas celebrations.

More than 40 Notting Hill carnival entertainers in full costume will form the centrepiece of this year's Santa Parade through the town.

Escorted by Harley Davidson motor bikes, Santa's sleigh will be pulled by huskies Bubble and Squeak.

Organised by the Swan Centre, the parade will travel to the shopping centre from Blenheim Road at 3.15pm via Desborough Road, Leigh Road and High Street.

Among those taking part in the Christmas cavalcade will be the Eastleigh carnival court, the Mayor Councillor Gillian Connell, Eastleigh and Totton Girls' and Boys' Brigades and the Fleming Park Leisure Centre float.

Local secondary schools, Toynbee and Thornden, will join in the fun and play a variety of music on the Leigh Road bandstand from 4pm to 5.30pm.

And from the bandstand the mayor will switch on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm to send Yuletide colour cascading through the shopping streets.

This year more than 2,000 metres of Christmas lights, which have been paid for by Eastleigh council, will be switched on as well as more than 2,000 lights on the Christmas tree in the Leigh Road precinct.

Eastleigh local area committee chairman Councillor Peter Wall says: "We are pleased to again provide the Christmas lights which provide an excellent display for residents and the many thousands of shoppers and visitors in the town over the festive period."

Town centre manager Dennis Chandler says: "The launch of Christmas in Eastleigh has be-come a major annual feature of the town.

"The Christmas lights always look excellent and I am also very grateful to the Eastleigh businesses that have helped pay for the wide range of festivities taking place in the town over the festive period."