A TEESSIDE community is being turned into a real tinsel town.

Not one but 20 Christmas trees - all with lights - are going up in the square at Eston, near Middlesbrough.

Father Christmas will be there plus a 30-strong parade of storybook characters, including the Ugly Sisters and the Mad Hatter, on Saturday.

There will be carols sung by a 95- strong choir of children from the Whale Hill and Bankfields Primary Schools, stilt walkers and roasted chestnuts.

The Christmas pageant marks the end of Eston's celebrations commemorating the 150th anniversary of the start of ironstone mining in the hills above the village.

Except for the help of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's technical services department in closing roads in and out of the square, allowing the event to take place safely, the Christmas celebrations have been organised and funded by residents and traders.

Eston Residents' Association spokesperson Ann Higgins said: "There is a great community spirit at Eston. Residents have done all the fundraising, buying the trees from the Forestry Commission. We have spent a fortune on buying 20 sets of lights. It is going to be a tremendous night.

"The council's technical services have done a marvellous job for which we are very grateful."

Roads into the square will be closed from 6pm on Saturday, and buses will be diverted from 6.30pm.