The votes are in and the people of the borough have voted for their community hero to switch on Harrow Town Centre’s Christmas lights.

Earlier this month the Harrow Times and Harrow Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) invited people to nominate Harrow Community Hero for the event.

Hundreds of people took part, with the majority voting for founder of Harrow Community Radio Keith Chilvers to switch-on the lights in Harrow Town Centre on Saturday November 29.

Mr Chilvers and Asif Iqbal, president of the Harrow United Deaf Club were chosen for the public vote two weeks ago.

Keith Chilvers has been active in the community for a long time having volunteered at Radio Northwick Park for 25 years.

In 2011 he founded Harrow Community Radio and has trained dozens of volunteers of all ages.

He said: “It’s lovely to have been nominated and voted for by the public. It’s very humbling to know people have noticed the work we have been doing.

“I know about the great work of Harrow United Deaf Club and Asif Iqbal, so to have won is amazing.

“Volunteering is important because I think it is good to give something back to the community and the area where you live.

“The Christmas party is a fantastic event for the whole of Harrow to enjoy and it’s a great chance for people to come together an enjoy themselves.

This year’s town centre Christmas party will include a whole afternoon of activities for all the family.

From 12pm there will be appearances from Peppa Pig and family, the Octonauts, festive market, a fun fair, live music, and a Santa’s grotto before the big switch-on and firework display at 6pm.

In the build up to the event on Saturday there will be a three-day festive market in the town centre starting on Thursday, November 27.