The current list of sponsors for the comeback of the Maldon Christmas Festival this year has been revealed.

The festival is set to return on Thursday 25 November, after it was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The sponsors for the event so far are Sark, Giles Ford from Edwards Walk, Reeve & Son, Event Factor, Willow & Fox, Maldon Foot Clinic, Jewellery Design Workshop, Wilkin & Sons, Woodstock Animal Enterprises, Mitchells Jewellers Ltd, Borough Carpets, Silo, Maldon Books, Ruby and Rose, Maldon Barber Shop, Temme English, Mighty Oak, Maldon Salt, Carlton Jewellers, Dante's, House of Delight, Maldon Rotary Club, Finale, the Emporium, Templemans Opticians, White Horse Pub, Kate Lifestyle, Maldon Coffee Company, The Friendly Frier, Church and Hawes and Mrs Salisbury's.

Also supporting the festival as a sponsor is Heybridge football club, Swifts F.C.

After Maldon's town mayor, Councillor David Ogg, has turned on the Christmas lights at 5pm on the High Street, there will be entertainment and hospitality from local businesses for residents to enjoy.

Town councillor Michael Pearlman, who is the chairman of the committee organising the event, said: "This year, all the stops are being pulled out to give the residents of the Maldon district and our visitors an evening to remember.

"Maldon wants this year's event to be very special so that everyone enjoys the evening by getting into the spirit of Christmas."

Besides the Christmas lights, there will be a Punch and Judy show, reindeers, a Father Christmas grotto and more entertainment along the High Street.

This year, the road closure will only extend from West Square to Wantz Road.

There will be a free shuttle bus into the town centre from Morrisons.

The Keep it Local campaign is being launched through Maldon District Council's Sense of Place initiative, with funding from the Magnox Decommissioning Fund.