THE people of Paisley are being urged to don their famous pattern for the launch of its bid for UK City of Culture 2021.

Thousands of revellers are expected to help celebrate the Paisley Pattern during the town's annual Christmas light switch on which this year will include a light show to mark the launch of the culture bid on November 14.

More than 30,000 people are due to turn out and the public will be asked to show their support for the bid on social media by using the hashtag #paisley2021.

Before the Christmas lights are switched on, a seven-minute Paisley-themed animated light show will be projected on to the side of Paisley Abbey as part of the project.

Anne Hall, Renfrewshire’s Provost, said: “We are calling on all residents to become part of Paisley's Pattern by donning our world famous design.

"The people of Paisley and Renfrewshire are central to what we are doing in our ambitions to become UK City of Culture.

"It would be fantastic for the people to come out in force and wrap the town in Paisley Pattern."

She added: “Thousands come to Paisley each year for the Christmas lights switch-on, so it makes sense for the public launch of the town’s bid for UK City of Culture to take place on what is one of the most popular dates in the local calendar with 32,000 attending last year.

“The bid is taking place as part of a wider push to use culture and heritage to transform the area’s future -we want to show everybody what Paisley has to offer."

On the day there will be photographers out and about capturing pictures of the crowd, which will be available for download from the bid website.

The UK City of Culture competition is run by the UK Government and bids are due to be lodged in 2017, with the winner announced at the end of that year.

If Paisley is selected it would be following Hull (2017) and Derry (2013) in holding the title.

The Christmas Lights event itself will kick off at noon with a traditional reindeer parade which this year follows a new route, starting and finishing on Paisley High Street and taking in Causeyside Street, Orchard Street, Abbey Close and Gauze Street.

The main stage on Gauze Street will be hosted by Clyde 1 DJs and will feature Funbox - formerly the Singing Kettle - as well as the band Dogtooth.

They will be followed by S Club Party – featuring members of the former chart-toppers S Club 7 - with reigning X Factor champion Ben Haenow taking to the stage before the UK City of Culture bid launch light show.