Peterborough's Commonwealth gymnastics champion Jake Jarman to switch on Cathedral Square Christmas lights

Peterborough’s European and Commonwealth gymnastics champion Jake Harman will officially start Christmas in his home city this year when he turns on the Cathedral Square festive lights.

Jake, from Gunthorpe in Peterborough who has competed internationally for Great Britain, and for England at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this year where he became the first English male gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Games.

He added to his medal haul in Germany later on in the year, and made history in being the first senior Great British gymnast to take the gold on the vault at the European championships, bronze on the floor and was eighth all around helping the GB team take the gold.

The big switch on will take place on Friday, November 18 at 5pm.

Jake will be joined by PCRFM breakfast show host Kev Lawrence and a host of pantomime characters from Peterborough’s theatres.

The event, which is headline sponsored by the city centre’s business improvement district - Peterborough Positive - with additional sponsorship by Princebuild, O&H Hampton and Nexus Fostering, will also be the first time the city's 40-foot Spruce Christmas tree will be colourfully lit up.

The tree has already been revealed, after Councillor Steve Allen, cabinet member for culture at Peterborough City Council selected it himself from a forest in Solihull.

Cllr Allen said: "We're delighted that Jake can join us for the Christmas lights switch on for city residents. There is so much to look forward to this year with the real ice rink and Christmas stalls too.

"We'd like to thank our sponsors and PCRfm for making the event possible and for adding plenty of festive sparkle. We hope you also find the time to do some Christmas shopping, visit our Christmas market and enjoy the many restaurants that Peterborough has to offer."

This year’s festive offering in the city centre will also see a giant ice rink put in place, with the attraction arriving in Cathedral Square a week after the lights switch on.