ORGANISERS of the switching-on of the festive lights in Chard town centre on Friday (November 27) may have had to cancel the planned Santa Run. But they have been quick to assure people that Christmas itself this year has most definitely not been postponed.

Chard Town Team officials took the difficult decision to cancel this year’s planned Santa Run.

The Santa Run event would have seen festive fans dress in red and white outfits and run round a short course in the town starting and finishing outside the Guildhall in Fore Street.

The cancellation, a decision made by the Chard Town Team, has been put down to a lack of volunteers to help marshal the event.

Officials from the team said there was also plus a slow take-up of entries, which meant that the organisers decided to cancel the Santa run sooner rather than later.

Jenny Kenton, of Chard Town Team, said: “Due to a lack of bodies on the ground, we have decided not to hold the Santa Run this year.

“Hopefully it will be back next year, but we cannot staff everything this year.”

The Christmas lights have however already gone up and they will be switched on at a grand ceremony to mark the countdown to Christmas in Chard.

The festive fun on lights switch-on evening is due to start at around 6pm.

Father Christmas will be in attendance, of course, and there will be lots to do for entertainment including a bouncy castle, reindeer rodeo ride, a street fair and much more.

Nearly 100 small Christmas trees have been put up around the town centre, with the trees set to twinkle with lights.