CHRISTMAS is coming and the town’s light are already going up.

The £100,000 festive decorations were new to Huddersfield town centre last year and have made a welcome return with 71 shopping days to go.

Shoppers were greeted with the early festive sight after a team of contractors worked over two nights using cherry pickers.

They will be switched on during a special late-night shopping event on Thursday, November 18.

Kirklees Council and Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership invested in the new lights last year to add to the town’s welcoming and vibrant atmosphere in the run-up to Christmas.

The decorations, designed by Lockwood Firm KD Decoratives, replaced multi-coloured lights that had been recycled for years.

Town centre manager Cathy Burger said: “The decorations were a stylish addition and we got some great feedback.

“Retailers said they made a real difference and they got a lot of positive comments from people coming into the town.

“Putting up the lights is a carefully planned operation.

“There is quite a lot that goes on behind the scenes and we have to make sure they are up in plenty of time so they can be tested before the switch-on.”

The big switch-on will involve the town’s talent with local musicians and performers participating.

But this year the countdown has been moved from its usual spot in the Piazza to Nelson Mandela Corner, behind the library, to make way for the setting up of the ice rink.

Helping switch on the lights this year will be Huddersfield Town’s mascot Terry the Terrier and some of the players.

The ice rink will be up and running by December 2, with the massive Christmas tree in St George’s Square set to make a return shortly after the Festival of Light finishes on December 4.