A DRY evening, a great crowd, plenty of sausages, the band played . . . and Santa arrived on time with no parking ticket this year for his sleigh!

The scene was set for the annual countdown for St Breward’s Christmas lights and an evening to remember on December 2.

Villager Andrea Prescott, who has taken over the running of the Christmas Lights this year following the departure of Rebecca Storr from the village, said: “When we moved to the village I remember thinking that the Christmas lights looked sad and needed a little help and, as I love Christmas, I enquired how to get involved. So I contacted Rebecca Storr who was also keen. So four years ago my partner John Allan and I met her in her garage, along with Lisa Bailey Brown who had recently moved to the village, and we tried to salvage what we were given, that was left over.”

At the time John Allan was involved with helping Camelford town with their lights. They had some strings of lights that St Breward could have, surplus to their requirements. It was a great help and a good head start for the new lights committee. The first year they used the coloured ‘normal’ bulbs they were given but they can break easily and are not economical to run. So they launched ‘Buy a Bulb’, which helped raise enough money to change the old bulbs to new LED ones.

Through the year they need to raise enough money to hold the switch on evening, which is around £300 to put on, and raise enough funds to replace any lights and new bulbs that are needed.

The lights committee is a small group consisting of John and Andrea, Lisa Bailey Brown, Nick and Clair Teague, and Robin and Lisa Teague.

Andrea added: “And if we need any extra help for an event we have some lovely local people who help us out, which is much appreciated. Also thanks to Western Power Distribution for allowing us to use the cherry picker putting up the lights.

“Since Rebecca left it’s clear how much is involved behind the scenes and it would be great if we could encourage some ‘fresh blood’ so if anyone is interested give me, Andrea, a ring on 01208 850782.

“Finally, each year we have an issue with getting a real Christmas tree for the village, if we had excess money we would buy one ourselves.”