THE lights of the NSPCC Christmas tree in the Wharf were officially switched on by the mayor of West Devon last week.
Cllr Richard Phillips, who was accompanied by his partner Donna Forshaw and baby daughter Jessie, paid tribute to the work of the NSPCC.
He said the figures for child abuse in Great Britain made shocking reading.
In a joint fundraising campaign with the Times and the Tavistock branch of the NSPCC, advertisers have paid £10 to sponsor a bauble each on the tree.
The £50 star at the top of the tree has been sponsored by Safeway and Simon Allen of Tavistock Tyre and Exhaust Services.
Sam Doel, chairman of Plymouth and West Devon NSPCC, said: ?The Devon child protection team is based in Plymouth?.
She said: ?All the money raised locally will be spent on local services for the children in this area.?
The tree in the Wharf has been kindly donated by Kaminskis of Tavistock.