HARPENDEN S very own celebrity Izzy Johnson joined the Town Mayor and Alban Arena panto stars for the switch-on of the Christmas lights on Sunday. Izzy, of classical music group Escala which has gone from strength to strength since reaching the final of

HARPENDEN'S very own celebrity Izzy Johnson joined the Town Mayor and Alban Arena panto stars for the switch-on of the Christmas lights on Sunday.

Izzy, of classical music group Escala which has gone from strength to strength since reaching the final of Britain's Got Talent and signing for Simon Cowell, was invited back to her home town for the ceremony.

She is the daughter of David and Gill Johnston of Harpenden Musicale and was brought up in the town.

Izzy switched on the lights at 4.30pm together with Rohan Kapoor, winner of the town council's Christmas Poster competition.

The afternoon was given over to Harpenden's Christmas Carnival with the Farmers' Market packed with stalls and the Youth Town Council serving up hot chocolate to warm up visitors.

The Mayor, Cllr Pat Kent, and Izzy were in a carriage which travelled along Bowers Parade and through the town centre as part of a parade which was accompanied by bagpipes. Charity stalls were set up in Church Green near the stage.

A village will have Christmas lights for the first time this year.

The 12 new lights along Watling Street in Park Street are the first in the village's history and will be switched on this Monday.

St Stephen Parish Council contributed more than £3,000 and the Park Street Residents Association put more than £4,000 towards the lights. A further £900 was provided by local businesses.

Parish council chairman John Bell said: "The aim is to try to brighten up that little bit of Park Street. It's a bit dull at Christmas and hopefully this will cheer people up in this credit crunch. Now they are there they will obviously brighten it up for some years to come."

St Stephen Parish Council will be holding its annual carol concert at Greenwood Park community Centre in Tippendell Lane in Chiswell Green at 5pm on Sunday week, December 7.

The concert, which has been running for a number of years, is free for all and will include tea, coffee and biscuits following the performance.

Choir members are drawn from the local churches and primary schools and there will also be readings and other musical performances.

A collection will be held in aid of Watling View School in St Albans. Doors open at 4.30pm.