AROUND four hundred people braved wet and blustery late November weather on Saturday, to see the plunger go down for the switch-on of Ledbury's Christmas lights.

Numbers were slightly down on previous years, because of the stormy conditions; but organisers were still very pleased as to how the day went.

However, Cllr Martin Eager, chairman of the town's Christmas Lights committee, is already wondering how to make next year's event even better, and that could include a day change to a Sunday, instead of a Saturday, and a road closure for the High Street.

Cllr Eager also would like to see "the setting up a dedicated Xmas Lights Committee made up primarily of traders and interested members of the public rather than a domination of town councillors".

He added: "It would be lovely if we could follow the lead of the other Market Towns and close off the road for the day and then have more entertainment and stalls; but you cannot close the High Street on a Saturday and we have to make the most of what we have got.

"However, there is scope to do more. Maybe we could change the day to a Sunday where it would not clash with so may other nearby towns and then maybe have a road closure."

Cllr Eager said of last Saturday's switch-on: "The weather did not help; numbers were down but everybody was pleased with how the day went.

"Santa arrived on time and his new Grotto in the Burgage Hall was praised, where the kids were entertained by Steve Chaos under cover.

"The Ice Queen went down a storm and everybody loves the new and improved lights. There are a couple of gliches to sort out where the new contractors have not quite finished and a couple of strings need sorting; but on the whole, considering the weather it all went off very well."