ONE of Wiltshire's best Christmas Lights displays was quietly switched on at 6pm on Saturday.

And that's exactly how the volunteers of the Melksham Christmas Lights Group had planned it.

Instead of the traditional large crowd in front of the Town Hall to watch the switch-on, there were just a few people in the town's Market Place and the High Street.

Paul Weymouth, owner of Light Fantastic Event & Entertainment Lighting, which sponsors the Melksham Christmas Lights Group, was there with his partner Anna and 13-month-old son Tommy.

He said: "Pretty poor crowd this year... just how we planned it!

"Thanks for the amazing comments and it’s truly incredible to see so many people wandering down to see what we have been up to.

"We, as ever, have a load of tweaks and things to sort and we’ll be doing those over the next few days."

The display includes a dancing Santa and Christmas and New Year messages of goodwill on a large TV screen and on the pavement as well as a message thanking the NHS.

The lighting display changes to illuminate Melksham Town Hall in a myriad of different colours.

Melksham Christmas Lights Group is an entirely voluntary group, consisting mainly of retired volunteers some of whom have been involved for more than 40 years.

​Taking over from the Chamber of Commerce decades ago, the group set out to continue to put up, take down and maintain Melksham's Christmas Lights each year whilst other towns lost their display or went directly to contractors.

Over the years, Melksham has built a reputation for having one of the best Christmas Lights displays in Wiltshire. The team works tirelessly to put on an outstanding festive display.

Mr Weymouth said: "Everybody continues to work entirely voluntarily and work takes place throughout the year to design, build and install new lighting."