The countdown to Christmas will officially begin in Rayleigh on Saturday.
Rayleigh will be bathed in a festive glow on Saturday when its Christmas lights are switched on by Joyce Giles, chairman of the town council and Roger Buxton of BBC Essex at 4.30pm.
The future of the town's illuminations was uncertain earlier in the year after the Rayleigh Christmas lights committee disbanded
However, the town council came to the rescue and safeguarded the lights' future.
Barbara Larken, town clerk, said: "The town council has taken on full responsibility this year. "Makro has agreed to sponsor us and they donated £2,000.
"We will have lights wrapped around the lamp posts and the trees will have bulbs in them."
The lights will begin at the Holy Trinity Church and stretch down the High Street up to High Road.
Published Thursday November 20, 2003
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