AT ONE point it seemed like most of Bovey Tracey had turned out to see the Christmas lights switch on on Saturday.

Before the main event shoppers could browse among the stalls in the main street, which were selling everything with a festive twist, all the while entertained by music from Torbay Hospital Radio.

Children could enjoy rides on a magical roundabout set up in the main triangle before joining the queues to visit Father Christmas and let him know what they wanted to receive on Christmas morning.

As dusk fell, the street was lit up by the stalls and shop windows, and the choir of Bovey Tracey Primary sang carols to the enjoyment of fayregoers and many proud parents. Setting the backdrop to all this was the Christmas tree, kindly donated and installed by Mark Baker.

Nearby Heathfield had its own switch-on on Saturday, held at the Youth Cabin, where a reading was given by pupils of St Catherine’s Primary School.

Back in Bovey Tracey, when darkness had truly fallen it fell to mayor, Cllr Sheila Brooke, to switch on the lights with the help of a few little assistants.

Sheila said: ‘It was a lovely afternoon and evening, made possible thanks to the hard work of the Bovey Tracey Carnival committee. Many of the stalls were local businesses and it’s reported that a good few of them sold out their goods.’