THE first new Christmas Lights to sparkle over George Square in more than 25 years will be switched on today.

Lord Provost Sadie Docherty will turn on the new decorations after entertainment from Radio Clyde with the event concluding with fireworks being set off from the roof of the City Chambers.

Gates open at 6pm and close at 6.45pm and each person who attends will require a ticket, regardless of their age.

As a result there will be a number of road closures and parking restrictions put in place for the Christmas Lights Switch On event.

George Square will be closed to the general public from 3pm today in preparation for the event but will be retained to all residents and local businesses.

From 6am today until midnight tonight the following roads will be closed off to drivers: Anchor Lane; Cochrane Street; Dundas Lane; Dundas Street, between West George Street and Dundas Lane; George Square (north part); and George Square (west part).

Also affected will be George Street, between Montrose Street and George Square; Hanover Street; John Street, between Ingram Street and Martha Street; Martha Street; Montrose Street (Northbound), between Ingram Street and Cochrane Street; and Nelson Mandela Place (north part).

Nelson Mandela Place (south part); North Frederick Street; North Hanover Street, between George Square and Queen Street Station vehicle access; South Frederick Street and West George Street, between West Nile Street and George Square will also be affected.

Some roads will continue to be closed off until Monday, November 21 at 5am including all of George Square. 

Areas that will be affected from 5.30pm to 9pm today will be St Vincent Place between Buchanan and Queen Street; Ingram Street, (West bound) between Queen Street and Glassford Street; Queen Street, between Ingram Street and George Square.

Montrose Street (Southbound), between George Street and Ingram Street will be shut from 4.30pm until 10pm. 

Anyone taking the bus should also be aware that from 8am until midnight today, the following lanes will be shut: North Hanover Street,(Northbound), between George Square and Cathedral Street; Nelson Mandela Place, between West Nile Street and West George Street; and West George Street, between Nelson Mandela Place and George Square.

The new display features around 250,000 individual lights, 10 giant Christmas trees, 100 snowflakes with 13,000 individual lights decorating the Scott Monument.

This year's ballot for tickets resulted in almost 57,000 applications requesting a massive 272, 830 tickets meaning George Square could have been filled more than 16 times over.

More than 140,000 applications came from Glasgow residents with the remaining 132,700 coming from outwith the city.

Only 16,000 people were lucky enough to get tickets for the event and organisers are advising them to ensure they dress for the weather conditions.