FIRELIGHT and candles will help the people of Tavistock celebrate the end of the Millennium next week.
A beacon of fire will be lit on the downs overlooking the town on New Year's Eve to mark the end of the century
Organiser Gill Gorbutt said: 'It's not going to be something wildly big — we just thought it would be nice to have something for people to come to see, to mark the occasion if they wanted to.'
Mrs Gorbutt said the beacon would not be on a pole, but would take the form of a reasonably large fire on a metal base. It will be lit at sunset near The Pimple on Whitchurch Down.
'We hope we might get more people at that time, out of a desire to do something that won't interfere with other plans they might have for the evening.
'And it would be lovely if anyone has any sparklers to bring, too,' said Mrs Gorbutt.
Cllr Caroline Keane, who has helped organise the beacon, said: 'I am thrilled we have been successful with the project.
'We did not want Tavistock to be left off the map when it came to the lighting of beacons.'
And Tavistock Area Christians Together (TACT) have been distributing 5,000 candles to households in the area for people to light on December 31.
Ian Silcox, TACT secretary, said: 'The distribution is a thrilling ecumenical success, with over 70 members of seven of the major churches in the town delivering candles direct to homes in Tavistock, Whitchurch, Gulworthy and Peter Tavy.'
Mr Silcox said 1,000 primary school children in the area have also received a Millennium Christian book. 'It has been a lot of work, but so many felt they had to be involved to bring to the fore the main reason for celebrating the New Year this year to rejoice in the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ.'
The Rev John Rawlings will hold a service in Bedford Square in the last ten minutes of this century.
Mr Rawlings said: 'The bells will ring from about 11.30pm until 11.50pm. when I will say a prayer and read the Millennium Resolution.
'If people want to bring their Millennium candles with them, we can light them at midnight and then the bells will ring in the New Year.'
Mr Rawlings said there would be a service in Tavistock at 11.15am on New Year's Day.
'Every church in the country that has bells has been asked to ring them at midday on January 1,' he added.
Tavistock Lions Club has distributed 30 large rockets among members living in the town, which will be let off at midnight.
Lions spokesman Steve Grummitt said: 'We are intending to light up the sky with a barrage of rockets.'
'They're fairly large and will be let off from wherever Lions members are partying.'