HOLLYOAKS star Jennifer Biddall is taking time out from rehearsals for Weymouth Pavilion’s pantomime to switch on the Christmas lights in Dorchester.

The actress – who is starring in pantomime at Weymouth Pavilion this year – kicks off the countdown to Christmas in an evening of entertainment staged as a thank-you from traders for their customers’ support all year round.

The traditional Christmas Cracker night on Wednesday, December 3 promises to be the best ever, said Alistair Chisholm, president of Dorchester Chamber of Commerce.

He said: “There will be a lot of free entertainment for everyone – it’s going to be a cracker of a cracker night. This is a way of the traders saying thank you to everyone for their custom. We’ve got a few surprises planned but I can tell you that there will be a spectacular light display and snow – sort of real snow – in Dorchester.”

The late-night shopping evening is being organised by the chamber with financial help from the Dorchester BID, Business Improvement District.

Highlights include a children’s lantern procession led by Father Christmas in a rickshaw and accompanied by the town’s Samba Band. Live music by local talent including Dorchester Community Choir, the Quangle Wangle Choir, The Dolmen, The Crack, Pop Club, Durnovaria Silver Band and the West Dorset Accordion Players is also lined up for entertainment through until 10pm.

The evening also features local market stalls, charity stalls, trade stands and seasonal favourites like roast chestnuts and mulled wine around the town.

It takes the theme of the Twelve Days of Christmas and there will be prizes for the best shop windows and fancy dress characters.

Mr Chisholm said: “Cracker Night is a success because there are a lot of people working together and putting a lot of time in on it.”

The evening will form a contrast to the Victorian Showtime being held in Weymouth on Saturday, December 6 from 1pm. The change to a daytime Christmas extravaganza has sparked a row in Weymouth after traders feared their businesses would be hit by streets full of market stalls on a peak December Saturday.

Mr Chisholm said an evening was preferred for the Dorchester event, which would mark the first of the late-night shopping evenings in the run-up to Christmas.

He said: “I think there’s something about the evening that’s important for a Christmas event.”

Jennifer Biddall is starring in Beauty and the Beast at Weymouth Pavilion from December 20 until January 4. Her acting career includes theatre and roles in short films but she is best known as Jessica Harris in the television serial Hollyoaks.