A SPECTACULAR light show will celebrate the opening of the first wave of restaurants at Southampton's £70 million WestQuay Watermark development.

The highlight of a weekend of festivities on December 10 and 11 will be the launch of Luminate Southampton, which begins with a lantern parade through the city followed by a light projection onto the historic city walls which overlook the scheme’s new public plaza, The Esplanade.

Some restaurants will be open to the public from next Thursday.

Starting at 3pm on Saturday, December 10 in Guildhall Square, the lantern parade will feature a display of drumming, giant birds and marching bands.

Among those taking part are students from Southampton University, 100 primary school children carrying homemade lanterns and the Love Soul Choir.

Following the parade, the digital light show will begin at 6pm in The Esplanade, when scenes of Southampton through the ages will be projected onto the city walls.