The countdown to Christmas has begun with Bridport's Christmas tree lights being officially switched-on by the mayor.

After a cry by town crier John Collingwood - who insisted the event was not a party and instead a meeting - Cllr Ian Bark pushed the plunger to turn on the Christmas tree lights in Bucky Doo Square yesterday evening (Wednesday).

He said: "It gives me so much pleasure of being given the honour of switching on the lights on the tree in Bucky Doo Square in Bridport.

"It's something lots of people look forward to every year, it's one of the markers of the year and marks that Christmas has really started in the town."

Following the lights switch-on, Cllr Bark announced the winner of the mayor's Christmas card competition - which he sends out to other mayors and dignitaries throughout Dorset.

It was won by 11-year-old Theo Poole, who attends St Catherine's Primary School.

Cllr Bark said: "It's a wonderful design.

"The theme of the competition was a very simple one, it had to reflect Christmas and Bridport - so on his card we have Christmassy things like Santa and reindeers and a wonderful Christmas tree, with somebody who kind of resembles me as the fairy on top, but he assures me it's not, and various buildings in Bridport."

Presentations were also made by Bridport Round Table, which donates the tree in Bucky Doo Square each year.

The group presented a cheque to Bridport Town Council for £2,000 from money raised at its pop-up beer festival, Bridtoberfest, in October to go towards the rejuvenation project at Plottinghams. Another cheque was presented to Arthur Woodgate of the Bridport Young Person's Action Trust (BYPAT) and members of Bridport Primary School's school council to go towards Branden's Trail at the school.

Arthur said: "The donation from the Round Table is for a shelter, so any kid that needs support for any reason whatsoever can go and get it there, whether it's sunny or raining - it's going to be quite special/

"The arts centre is a partner as well, it is working with children on our murals for the fences.

"We've had tremendous support from across the community, organisations that raised funds - like our friends at Rotary - and also from individuals who heard the story of Branden and what we were doing to support young people."

Cllr Bark finished the event by thanking the town council, Rotary and everyone involved in "making Bridport such a bright, sparkly place over Christmas".

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