There will be a torchlight procession, superheroes and festive entertainment at this year’s Ottery late-night shopping event.

The launch will take place tonight (Friday) from 6pm and will coincide with the Christmas light switch-on.

Organisers have promised a fun-filled night with the shops being open until around 8pm. The torchlight procession will be led by the town crier and will finish at the town council offices, in Broad Street.

This year’s new carnival queen and the princesses will also be attending to switch the lights on.

Heroes, young and old, have been invited to join in with the parade dressed as their favourite superheroes, along with anyone else who fancies joining in on the walk in their own clothes.

Those wanting to take part in the parade have been asked to meet at the Sainsbury’s car park, Hind Street, at 5.45pm. The procession will leave at 6.15pm, with the countdown for the light switch-on starting at 6.30pm.

The event will include plenty of family entertainment and lots of special Christmas offers for shoppers. Some of the stores will also be running raffles and will be offering complementary drinks and nibbles.

This year, organisers have used a superheroes theme and will be running a family fun competition, where shoppers will be asked to find their favourite superheroes hiding in shops around town.

Entry forms can be collected from Abbott’s in Jesu Street, Season’s Tea Rooms in Silver Street, or the Curious Otter Book Shop, in Mill Street.

Completed forms should be returned to John at Season’s Tea Rooms by Friday, December 21.

There will also be carol singing at the Christmas Tree Festival, at the parish church and Gliddon’s Steam Engine will also be back to offer rides around town, from 4pm, in Broad Street - where Ledley the LED Leisure dinosaur mascot will be, along with face painting, a children’s entertainer with animal balloons and a surprise superhero.

Father Christmas and his sleigh will be at the Downs Motors’ forecourt, in Mill Street, with the brass section Ottery Town Band.

A selection of shops and stalls in Mill Street, Broad Street, Jesu Street, Silver Street, Yonder Street, Gold Street, Hind Street have also put up some beautiful decorations.

At the town council offices, there will be music from La La Choir, the Christmas lights switch-on and snow machines as well as a presentation for the winner of the shop window competition and best shop assistant superhero.

There will also be collections to put towards next year’s lights.