Christmas lights to be turned on in Cork

The Christmas lights will be turned on at the Grand Parade in Cork tonight - just a week after the street was submerged in up to three feet of water.

The official ceremony by the Lord Mayor takes place at 5pm.

Council officials also say they are hopeful running water will be restored to all homes in the city after this weekend.

Cork City Council said that households and businesses could expect to receive mains water on a phased basis as the plant, reservoirs and related network are brought back into full operation over the weekend.

When the water returns, residents are told they'll have to boil it before they drink it for a temporary period.

Damage costing millions of euro was caused when the River Lee burst its banks in the city centre, and further upstream.