THURROCK'S mayor, Cllr James Halden, will be among guests enjoying the start of seasonal festivities at Grays' Lighthouse Cafe this weekend.

Cllr Halden will officially launch the fun at 11.30am on Saturday (3 December) when the first of a series of Christmas markets take place at the Grays beach site.

Throughout December there will be events including the markets, a Santa's Grotto, inflatable snow globe on Sundays, and Christmas Arts and Crafts on Saturdays.

There will also be performances by Creative Blast.