ORGANISERS of the switching on of the festive lights in Chard town centre on Friday 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.

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 a slow take-up of entries, which meant that the organisers decided to cancel the 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 switchon 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.

The annual Victorian Evening at Ilminster, which incorporates the town’s own Christmas lights switch-on, is also taking place on Friday.

Further details about what is going on in Ilminster throughout the day can be found on pages 12- 14 of today’s News.

But organisers are promising it will be a night to remember for the thousands of people who will converge on the town centre.

The Victorian Evening, which sees many shopkeepers and staff, plus shoppers dress up in Victorian costume, is arguably the biggest event in the town’s calendar.

Children from local schools will be singing Christmas carols and songs in the Market House throughout the day.

Then at 6.30pm, there will be lantern parade in the town ahead of the switch-on at 7pm.

Crewkerne is also holding its Christmas lights switch-on event on Friday in the town centre with events starting from 5pm.

There will be a children’s Christmas hat competition from 5.45pm outside the Town Hall with a theme of a sports world cup.

The festive lights in Crewkerne will be switched on at 7pm.