THE town centre will enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas this weekend when shoppers will step back in time to the theme of 2,000 years of Christmas.

The Golden Square shopping centre will be transformed into Christmas past with the help of re-enactment groups, who will recreate days of old.

The celebration of 2,000 years of Christmas will begin with the Mayor, Clr Sheila Woodyatt MBE, arriving by horse-drawn coach and officially opening the festivities at noon this Saturday.

Medieval characters and Vikings will parade through the shopping mall and jugglers will entertain shoppers.

Volunteers from the Bewsey Old Hall Conservation Project will recreate a kitchen and dining room from the Stuart period in the Old Market Place and demonstrate a typical day.

At 4pm on Saturday, the groups will gather with shoppers for a candlelit carol service, while on Sunday, a special ecumenical service with Christmas carols will be held in the mall.

The market will join in the fun with Victorian characters roaming the stalls, as well as performers from a pantomime company providing children's entertainment.

To keep shoppers entertained there will also be a Christmas grotto, face painting and a poetry reading challenge.

The Cockhedge Centre will be transformed into a Viking Christmas camp. Other displays throughout the day will include a parade of Second World War vehicles and vintage cars along Buttermarket Street and Horsemarket Street.

Clr Terry Whelan, deputy chairman of the Town Centre Development Panel, said: "The 2,000 years of Christmas event is a fantastic example of partnership working across the town centre.

"Not only will it celebrate Warrington through the ages, it will help bring people of all ages together to celebrate the 2,000th birthday of Christ."