TWO much-loved festive characters have stepped in to turn Southend’s Christmas lights after David Hasselhoff pulled out.

Raymond Briggs’ the Snowman and the Snowdog, from the much-loved festive cartoon, will switch on the festive lights in Southend High Street this Saturday.

Actors in character suits will round of a day of free entertainment at 6pm as the former Knight Rider and Baywatch star, who is appearing in Peter Pan at the Cliffs Pavilion this Christmas, has had to return to the USA for family reasons.

Dawn Jeakings, chairman of Southend BID, which has organised the event, said: "Obviously we are very sorry that the Hoff is not able to switch the lights on in Southend this weekend, but we totally understand his reasons for being unable to do this and wish both him and his family well and look forward to seeing him here in Peter Pan December.

“We’re delighted that the Snowman and the Snowdog – who are huge festive family favourites and appearing at the Royals Shopping Centre on that day – have agreed to extend their stay in town and fly up the High Street to take his place."

The festive fun gets underway from 2.30pm, as Britain’s Got Talent girl group Sweet Chix perform live.

They’ll be joined across the day by street dance group Youth Creation, 2013 X Factor finalist Lydia Lucy, returning to her Essex roots to perform her own hits, and local band Avenue, along with other up-and-coming artists.

After the daylight has given way to darkness, students from the East 15 performing arts academy will be staging a spectacular fire show on Pier Hill from 6.15pm.

This will act as a prelude to a seafront firework display, from 7.30pm.