Everything Okehampton experienced a 'nail-biting’ moment, when it looked like the new Christmas lights would not arrive in time for this year’s 'switching on’ at Edwardian Evening.

The lights, which came from overseas, arrived in the nick of time, as organisers feared that driver shortages and more stringent customs checks at the country’s borders would delay the delivery.

Cllr Christine Marsh, chief Christmas lights organiser, described it as 'a bit nail-biting’ and said that she ’was just hoping that they would arrive in time’.

Generous local support secured the £24,000 needed to replace the Christmas lights earlier this month after a heartfelt appeal. Okehampton Town Council has agreed to become owner of the lights with Everything Okehampton continuing to take responsibility for putting them up and sorting out the insurance.

There will be fewer of the renowned lights around the town this year as the usual Christmas tree and light displays above doorways will not be put up due to health and safety concerns and rising insurance costs.

Last year one socket caught fire after water seeped into the electrics and the lights were subsequently turned off as a safety precaution.

However, Everything Okehampton have arranged for a Christmas tree to be placed by All Saints Church for the festive season instead.

This was the traditional place for the tree but it was moved when a taxi rank was built near the site and it was considered too dangerous to use.

But, organisers decided to use the church location again following this year’s decision to reduce Christmas decorations because of the wide pavement area available for the tree.

Cllr Marsh said: ’I am hoping that people are still going to want to come and see them.’

The famous lights which attract visitors from across Devon and beyond, will be switched on at Okehampton’s popular Edwardian Evening on December 2 which will mark the start of the town’s Christmas celebration period.

For the second year running, the Okehampton and District Lions Club are putting up a Tree of Light in the town, which was inspired by the popularity of the Tree of Light in Tavistock.

The tree, which has been donated to the club by a member of the public, will be placed in the Red Lion Yard outside the Charter Hall.

Lions are inviting people in the Okehampton and surrounding area to sponsor a light bulb on the tree to be lit in memory of a loved one.

So far, local lions have posted about 4,000 sponsor forms to homes in the EX20 (Okehampton and Belstone) area and Martin Jewell, the club’s secretary, is visiting neighbouring villages to hand out forms and posters advertising the scheme.

Mr Jewell said: ’It’s a way for people to sponsor a bulb and know that the money will be going to help people nationally and internationally.

’We don’t take any of the money. Each penny goes to help somebody else.’

All proceeds raised at this event will go to Everything Okehampton to fund the town’s Christmas lights.

There have been delivery delays across the country which have been put down to the pause in HGV driving tests during covid lockdowns and new trade regulations since the UK left the EU.

Plymouth’s Christmas lights supplier received only half of its order and so was unable to turn on the full set at the city’s lights’ switch on last night (November 18).