Christmas came early to the Hewett School yesterday when 147 students created lanterns for a festive procession.

Pupils at the Cecil Road school got to work at lunch time with sticky tape, sticks and yellow paper in preparation for a special candle lit procession as part of the Norwich city centre Christmas lights switch-on in November.

The entire year-seven group of students created the lanterns out of paper and willow.

Hewett School's director of creative arts and technology faculty, Peter Jay, said: 'This has been a wonderful project for the students to work on. They are really excited about being involved in the procession.'

The lanterns, which will be mounted on poles, will then be used in the lights switch-on candle-lit procession on Thursday, November 17, which leaves from the Great Hospital, Bishopgate, at 6.15pm.

The procession will walk along Cathedral Close, Queen Street, London Street and Gentleman's Walk – arriving at City Hall for the main city centre switch-on and firework burst at 7pm.

This year the lights will be switched on and counted down by former Canaries star and football pundit Dion Dublin.

Norwich City Council's culture and events officer, Liz Wimms, who is organising the Christmas switch-on, said: 'This is a fantastic project, it is a really great opportunity for students at the Hewett School to get creative and get involved in supporting the local community.'

The Christmas switch-on will also include carols, dancing and a Christmas-themed fancy-dress competition and the best dressed will win a prize. The Forum will also have a craft fair on the evening of November 17 and The Lanes will be holding a street fair in Upper St Giles.

photos: SIMON FINLAY