IT MAY only be October, but work starts today (Monday) for the team that makes sure Leicester city centre sparkles at Christmas.
Contractors working with Leicester City Council’s street lighting team will tonight start the mammoth task of installing the thousands of colourful lamps that will bring a festive feel to the city’s main shopping streets once again this year.
Putting up the decorative spans and the festoon lights will take the team up to four weeks, with work being carried out early in the morning and at weekends to minimise disruption to road users.
Together with Town Hall Square and the Town Hall itself, around 20 streets will be decorated to create a welcoming atmosphere for families and Christmas shoppers.
The jewel in the crown will be the giant Christmas tree that will stand proudly at the Clock Tower after its journey from the Kielder Forest in Northumberland.
Due to arrive in early November, the 44ft-tall Norwegian Spruce will be dressed with hundreds of twinkling fairy lights in time for the big switch-on on Wednesday 19 November.
Full details of Leicester’s Christmas programme will be revealed later this month.