Good will soon conquer evil when a town lights itself up for Diwali.

Celebrations of the Hindu, Sikh and Jane festival begin in Chigwell on Saturday, when parish council chairman Darshan Sunger switches on the town's lights at 6pm - symbolically representing the banishing of darkness and its evil qualities.

For several weeks Station Green will be illuminated by a light show arranged by Ravi Bhanot, a High Road resident and one of the organisers behind last years Light Up London event.

On November 8 the 2075th year of the lunar Hindu calendar will be beckoned in at the recently opened temple.

Volunteer Girish Patel said: "Visitors to the Mandir will be able to see the Annakut – literally, ‘mountain of food’ – that is prepared in thanksgiving to God for his providence over the year past and the year to come.

"More than 500 varieties of pure vegetarian food will be artistically arranged to create a visual wonder.

"Next to the Mandir, the fragrance of traditional Indian street food from the food marquee will captivate the senses.

"A multitude of sumptuous sweet and savoury snacks will be available on New Year’s Day."