Christmas has come early for one student thanks to a garden centre.

Eastern Daily Press: Thomas Willoughby-Stones, a College of West Anglia foundation student, switched on the Christmas Grotto lights at Dobbies garden centre. Photo: Season LanckmansThomas Willoughby-Stones, a College of West Anglia foundation student, switched on the Christmas Grotto lights at Dobbies garden centre. Photo: Season Lanckmans (Image: Season Lanckmans)

Thomas Willoughby-Stones who is studying a bridge to independence foundation course at the College of West Anglia, in King's Lynn, has always wanted to work with fairy lights.

The 19-year-old's life-long dream was made a reality when Dobbies agreed for Thomas to switch on the lights for the Christmas grotto at their King's Lynn Hardwick store.

Twenty of his classmates donned Christmas jumpers and joined him for the count down to the big moment.

Eastern Daily Press: Thomas Willoughby-Stones, a College of West Anglia foundation student, switched on the Christmas Grotto lights at Dobbies garden centre. Photo: Season LanckmansThomas Willoughby-Stones, a College of West Anglia foundation student, switched on the Christmas Grotto lights at Dobbies garden centre. Photo: Season Lanckmans (Image: Season Lanckmans)

Gemma Doughty, the works placement and careers coordinator at the college, said: 'When Thomas said that his dream job was to work with fairy lights, it was easy to accomplish thanks to the incredible support from Dobbies.

'The switch-one went really well and Thomas's mum was especially pleased and appreciative of everyone's efforts.'