Christmas lights will be coming on across Windsor and Slough over the next two weeks as the pre-festive season moves into top gear.

Historic Eton gets in first with a community carol service at Eton College Chapel next Thursday (November 15) at 5.30pm, followed by a parade through Eton High Street to Jubilee Square with Father Christmas and his reindeer before the switch on at 7pm.

Windsor's big switch-on is two days later on Saturday, November 17.

Festivities start at 3pm with a children's lantern procession and the switch on at 5.30pm in front of Windsor Castle with the cast from the Theatre Royal's panto Dick Whittington.

Windsor Castle's Garter Tower will be illuminated with a presentation featuring historical images of the castle, members of St Georges Chapel Choir and Christmas images designed by schoolchildren from Windsor and Eton.

The Christmas grotto at the Daniel store opens that day from 10.30am to 4.30pm and will continue every Saturday and Sunday until December 17 and then every day until Christmas.

Slough's big day is also on Saturday, November 17.

Celebrations in the Town Square will last from 1pm to 6pm.

A range of goodies donated by local retailers will be given away. There will be a preview of The Curve’s pantomime Beauty and the Beast, plus music and dance from Elite Drummers, Creative Academy, Pop Goes the Choir, Sesha Natya Nikethan and Gaiczek and Lesna Polana dancers.