THE SMILES on the people's faces were as bright as the coloured lights as Tavistock got into the festive spirit on Friday for the annual switching on of the Christmas lights.
More than 400 people including many children gathered to see the lights go on through the town and the trees of light on the town hall.
Many joined in the countdown to the switch-on with Olympic silver medallist Heather Fell from Merrivale, who was in charge of flicking the switch.
Heather is the second Olympic modern pentathlete to turn on Tavistock's Christmas lights.
Kate Allenby, bronze medallist in the 2000 games, previously held the honour.
This is the 10th year that the Tavistock Lions' trees of light have decked the town hall, raising £30,000 since their inception for local charities.
Residents sponsor a bulb in memory of a loved one and already this year, £5,100 has been received in sponsorship money.
The charities to benefit in 2008 will be the Children's Hospice South West and the local branches of Macmillan Nurses and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Tavistock Lions press officer Steve Grummitt said thanks to sponsorship from Morris Brothers funeral directors for admin costs, every penny of the money raised would go to the charities.
The Christmas lights through the town are organised by Tavistock Chamber of Commerce which has added more coloured lights to its display this year.
Chamber chairman Nigel Eadie said the display was phenomenal and he was delighted by the number of people who turned up for the switching on ceremony:
'I was absolutely overwhelmed and Heather did a great job with the countdown by putting the microphone into the crowd and letting the children join in.'