There are some who say that Christmas hasn’t truly begun until radio presenter Freddy Zapp has unveiled his annual Christmas extravaganza of lights.

This year’s launch event coincided with the arrival of stormy conditions, but that didn’t stop Freddy carrying out the switch on at his home in Dopps Terrace, Redruth.

Falmouth Packet:

The town mayor Deborah Reeve led the countdown to the switch on, in the company of Carol Knight and her husband the Truro town crier Lionel Knight, the chairman of Redruth Chamber Of Commerce Manny Hernandez and Redruth deputy mayor Matthew Brown.

Despite the cold and windy night, Freddy turned on the festive lights on the terraced houses that he and neighbour Simon Burge had decorated.

Falmouth Packet:

As members of Redruth Town Band played Christmas carols, he then served mulled wine and mince pies to the crowd of more 50 residents who had come to join in the festivities.

Freddy, who made all the lights himself using many metres of light rope and over 10,000 cable ties, said: “It is giving something back to the community and what better way is there than to celebrate the Christmas season.”