Christmas officially comes to Douglas today, as the lights are turned on and parking arrangements are made for an influx of shoppers.

Douglas council will switch on its lights outside the Town Hall in Ridgeway Street at 7pm, with festive entertainment from the cast of the Gaiety's pantomime Peter Pan, and Douglas Town Band.

Mayor Michael Gelling will throw the switch, and there will even be an early white Christmas, thanks to six snow machines.

A lantern parade will then make its way from King Street through the town centre to the Villa Marina Gardens.

Jason Roberts reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

As well as the Yuletide fun, there are also more practical arrangements for those planning to shop in Douglas.

On the seafront, the Department of Transport launches the annual festive parking scheme on Loch Promenade's walkway.

The scheme will see an entrance at the War Memorial, an exit at the Peveril Square Roundabout and a one-way system with a 5mph limit every day until January 3.

The temporary car park will operate from 9.30am to 9pm and drivers must park on the garden side, not the sea side.