Wimblington is ready for Christmas – with many improvements to the Christmas lights that were switched on at a special ceremony.

Cambs Times: Wimblington Christmas Lights switch on 2016Wimblington Christmas Lights switch on 2016 (Image: Archant)

The Christmas lights group have spent all year pulling together bigger and brighter displays for 2016, refurbishing donated pieces as well as fundraising for new lights.

They now have over 320 metres of strands of bright LED lighting around the village, with hopes of extending even further next year.

The year’s work culminated with a festive afternoon attended by around 500 villagers.

Hot festive food and drinks were on offer in the parish hall; local crafts people sold their wares and outside the crowd were kept entertained with fabulous festive music with compere Simon Knight, whilst families enjoyed the teacups ride, “hook a duck” and other fairground games.

Cambs Times: Wimblington Christmas Lights switch on 2016Wimblington Christmas Lights switch on 2016 (Image: Archant)

During this time Father Christmas’ sleigh (accompanied by a band of helpful elves and Cleo Stiff, poster competition winner) was touring around the village dishing out sweets.

The crowd gathered in time for the arrival of the sleigh at the hall shortly after 6:00pm, and the children of Thomas Eaton School Choir kicked off the countdown to the big switch on at 6:30pm.

A spokesman for the lights committee said: “We are completely overwhelmed at how local people have come along throughout the year to our fundraisers. We’re so grateful for their support and without this, the lights display would not be possible.

“We’ve also been so lucky with the generous offers of help from local trades’ people, and again, we simply could not have pulled this year’s display together without this support.

“We promised bigger and better this year, and we’ve certainly delivered.”