THE Christmas Lights have come on in Trowbridge and the town's residents are being urged to stay safe while enjoying the festive display.

The lights were switched on at 6pm yesterday in a virtual event which was streamed online.

Trowbridge Town Council organiser, Victoria Spriggs said: "Hopefully, it will bring the community of Trowbridge together – in a safe, Covid-compliant way, to celebrate the start of the festive season."

The displays in Fore Street, Silver Street, Market Street include a Merry Christmas Trowbridge message on the town hall.

There are further displays lighting up the trees in Trowbridge town park and the bandstand.

But some people have already criticised the display, saying there were no lights on in Wicker Hill and commenting that the displays in Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Warminster are far better.

One resident posted a comment on local social media saying: "I just have too say how disappointed we are at the Trowbridge Christmas lights.

"We have just walked around the town and through the park and it looks like we have ran out of lights. Very poor compared to Bradford on Avon."

Another resident, Sophie Larcombe, said: "The tree is such a disappointment this year too", while another, Chris Sims, added: "Same every year ..... perhaps the lights are social distancing this year."

Richard Cairns said: "Perhaps the council decided not to make the effort as they get slated every year for the Xmas lights."

Plans for a Christmas lantern parade and a traditional switch-on event were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council has supplied up to 300 lantern-making kits to local families, schools and youth groups and is asking people to create their own lanterns to display at home.

In tandem with the lights switch-on, the council also launched Trowbridge’s first Window Wanderland event which is taking place over the weekend.

Miss Spriggs said: "This is an amazing new Covid-safe event designed to connect people, while transforming streets into magical outdoor galleries."

In addition, Trowbridge Area Churches Together have organised a Nativity Trail around Trowbridge between Sunday, December 20 and Sunday, December 27, which will be hosted by nine of its member churches.

Children and parents can visit 14 venues, each of which will have a display, together with the relevant part of the Nativity story on a laminated poster.

They will then need to fill the gaps in the story and also find a letter at each location which, when finished, will make up a verse.

Completed entries can then be sent in for a chance of winning prizes donated by Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda. You can find out more details at www.nativitytrail.info.