RISHTON residents held their heads up with pride after their ‘Do It Yourself’ Christmas lights switch on was ‘the best the town had seen’.

Hundreds gathered in High Street to enjoy a Christmas market and switch on event which saw the town sparkle brighter than ever before, after Hyndburn Council stopped providing festivities for the town in 2013.

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A total of 42 Christmas trees were placed along High Street on various businesses along with 25 market stalls, a Santa’s grotto and a raffle.

Nick Hayward, 57, who has lived in Rishton for 25 years got together with fellow residents and planned to reinstate the trees and create their own Christmas display.

Through hard work, the organisers and a committed 250 followers on Facebook raised more than £3,000 to relaunch the trees.

Mr Hayward said that there was so many people at the switch on he lost count.

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He said: “I couldn’t put a figure on how many went but there was an hour-long queue to see Santa which gives you a good idea on how busy we were.

“It was fantastic, the amount of people there was amazing and everyone could fully appreciate what had been done.

“It’s been a real people power project which has gone from a friendly chat in a pub to hundreds of followers on Facebook all working towards the same goal.”

Cllr Ken Moss, who represents Rishton on Hyndburn Council, said the crowds fully enjoyed themselves.

He said: “This years Rishton lights switch on was the best we have ever had by a long way.

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“I give top marks to the committee and all the volunteers who worked extremely hard.”