PREPARATIONS are well under way for the switch-on of the Christmas lights in Ilminster with plans for a new attraction in place.

The switch-on will be held on the night the Victorian evening on Friday, November 21, which has the theme A Christmas Spirit.

Members of the lights committee have been busy repairing displays and volunteers have started putting them up. New for this year are lights on the Market House roof which will depict snow.

Committee member Clinton Bonner said a real community spirit in the town helped make the event such a success.

He added: “Everyone who puts the displays up is a volunteer – they don’t get paid for their time and they work really hard all year round, so they should be applauded for all their hard work. “

This means that costs are kept down and we can spend all of the money on the lights. “The theme this year gives shops a lot of scope for their displays and these will be judged on the night before the Victorian evening.

“Everything is progressing well at the moment – we’re just hoping the weather holds out so we can do everything when we have planned to.

Lights committee member Robert Drayton added: “We’ve already started to put some of the lights up and next Monday we will be putting up the 74 Christmas trees outside the town centre shops and businesses.

“We would appreciate the support of pedestrians and motorists while we are putting the lights up.”

Lights and the setting up of trees will take place on the following days:

  • Silver Street on Sunday, November 9, from 9.30am town centre lights
  •  Monday and Tuesday, November 10 and 11, erection of small Christmas trees outside the town centre shops and businesses
  • Other dates may be necessary depending on the weather