Volunteers were out in force in Pewsey on Sunday morning putting up the Christmas lights ready for the big switch-on this Saturday.

The evening of festivities will start with a parade of homemade lanterns through the village starting at 5.45pm from St John the Baptist Church and will end in the Market Place where there will be carol singing lead by the Pewsey Male Voice and Pewsey Belles Ladies Choir.

This is the fourth year of the lantern parade which keeps getting bigger and better.

Before this tradition was introduced the lights were switched on at the end of the annual Christmas Fair.

Anyone who wants to be involved in the parade should arrive at the church at 5.15pm with their lantern ready for judging at 5.30pm.

Prizes will be given for the most innovative and the best decorated lantern.
Along the River Avon there will be a duck race and some of the shops will be staying open late.

Carnival Queen Katie Hogg, assisted by her attendants, Courtney Clark and Jessica Woods, will officially starting Christmas in the village when she switches on the lights in the Market Place at 6pm next to the King Alfred Statue.

Nigel Lihou, one of the lighting gang which helps to organise the event, said: “We don’t get a massive crowd, there are not thousands of people, but it’s a nice family event.

“We invite local choirs to sing the carols but we also give out sheets with the music on so everyone can join in if they want to.

“If the weather is nice and it’s a crisp winter evening then it’s really nice.

“The carnival chairman Bernie Bradshaw will get up and say a few words and so will the carnival queen and there will be lights along the river.

“It’s nice for the children.”