THE festive season looms large for the North-East's major commercial centres, with the switch-on of three sets of Christmas lights today.

Festive lighting in Newcastle and Sunderland city centres will be switched on at events this evening.

Performing the honours in Newcastle is the Tyneside-born actress Jill Halfpenny, the former Eastenders star who shot to fame by winning BBC's Strictly Come Dancing earlier this year.

She is appearing as the Fairy Godmother in the Newcastle Theatre Royal pantomime, Cinderella.

The light-up event takes place in Grey Street, with music and competitions prior to the switch-on at 6.30pm.

On Wearside, there are two events, beginning at The Bridges shopping centre, from 4.15pm, with the arrival of the two child stars from the Sunderland Empire's production of the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in the original car from the show.

Emily Jane Arkle and David Calvert will then assist Metro Radio presenter Paul "Goffy" Gough to switch on the centre's Christmas lights, prior to the arrival of Santa Claus at the Bridges grotto.

Later, Young Achiever award winner Rhys Minto, from Sunderland, will be the star at the switch-on of the city centre lights, following an orchestrated build-up in Burdon Road, next to the civic centre and Mowbray Park.

Rhys, 14, has battled to overcome a brain tumour since it was diagnosed in January last year, only a few years after losing his mother, Mandy, to the human form of BSE.

Tonight's warm-up features young singing stars from across the region, performing from 6pm, before Norwegian vice-consul Lisbeth Lorentzen officially hands over a donated fir tree, an annual gift from the people of Stavanger, to the people of Sunderland, at 6.50pm.

Rhys joins the city's mayor, Councillor Bill Stephenson, to perform the lights switch-on, at 6.55pm, followed by a 15-minute firework display.