Christmas spirit is alive and well after a desperate plea to save a town's light switch on saw droves of people pledge money to the cause.from the calendar.

Christmas spirit is alive and well after a desperate plea to save a town's light switch on saw droves of people pledge money to the cause.

Dereham will be bathed in light and filled with festive cheer later this month despite fears a lack of funding would result in the town's only community event of the year being scrapped from the calendar.

The EDPs sister paper the Dereham Times launched an urgent appeal to save the switch on, throwing £500 into the pot encouraging others to do the same to reach the £3,000 target.

And after some amazing generosity and plenty of blood sweat and tears not only is there enough money but with only 10 days until the switch on, the much anticipated event will definitely take place.

George Hayes, from the Dereham Christmas Lights Committee, said: “We were on the edge of the cliff. In fact our heads were over the cliff.

“It's fantastic to know that people want to get involved and help.”

After the plea was issued about £3,700 has been raised through collections and donations, from Yaxham Lodge Park and HSBC amongst others which means the committee can now pay for vital costs such as insurance, St John's Ambulance, steps to the stage and lighting.

Radio station KLFM has promised to provide the sound system, music and one of the DJs will be hosting the afternoon.

While exact details of the event should be ironed out in the next few days the switch on will take place in Dereham Market Place on Sunday November 25.

Funfair and stalls will start from 2pm, entertainment will begin from 3pm and the switch-on will be at 5pm, with a Santa's grotto at Barclays bank.

The exciting line up of just who will turn on the lights is being finalised.