SANTA Claus and his reindeer will be dropping in to help Dunfermline kick off the Christmas celebrations this year.

The jolly old bearded fellow will parade down High Street to the City Chambers where a traditional countdown will lead up to the lights being switched on by Provost Jim Leishman.

They're just part of a series of events that will take place on Sunday November 21.

Councillor Leishman said: “It is really important that we make this a family friendly, exciting event for the children.

"Being able to bring the Cairngorm reindeer and Santa’s sleigh here for the first time after many years will bring much needed excitement to the evening.

"When it comes to Christmas we are all children at heart, and this will be an opportunity for everyone to come along and enjoy the event.”

The party will begin at 2pm with the annual Santa Dash organised by the Rotary Club of Dunfermline.

The now annual fun run has attracted a good number of participants in previous years and will start outside Marks and Spencer’s and finish at the Louise Carnegie Gates, with some continuing for a 5k through Pittencrieff Park.

Kingdom FM will be broadcasting from their roadshow trailer to cover the dash and entertaining the crowds in the High Street until 5.30pm At 4.30pm, Santa will be in his sleigh for the reindeer parade that will go from East Port, down High Street to the Glen gates.

This leads up to the gathering at the City Chambers where the provost will conduct the traditional countdown from the balcony and flip the switch for this year’s beautiful lights and the start of Christmas in Dunfermline.

Cllr Helen Law said: “Life may not have returned to normal, and I know that it would be difficult to arrange the big parade we would have liked, but I know the children will be excited to see Santa with his reindeers and sleigh.

"There may even be some surprise guests with Santa. I’d like to thank the Rotary Club and Kingdom FM for their support in making this an enjoyable occasion.

"I would also thank Blachere Illuminations who light up our town with a great display of Christmas lights year on year.

"This is an important time for families and especially children. We have all endured such an awful time over the last 20 months but it’s great to see folk beginning to get back out and about.

"We need to continue to support our Dunfermline town centre businesses, now more than ever. So, enjoy the festivities and celebrate all that Dunfermline has to offer.”

Drivers should note that in order to make this a safe, traffic free environment for families, High Street, Bridge Street and Abbot Street will be closed to all traffic from midday to 6.30pm.