FAREHAM is now lit up for Christmas.

The Mayor of Fareham Cllr Mrs Pamela Bryant, has turned on the town's Christmas lights.

Due to the pandemic, the usual celebrations cannot take place this year. However, Cllr Bryant has started the magic of Christmas in a special video from her home.

She performed the honours alongside the Mayoress, Cllr Mrs Louise Clubley. As the mother and daughter team live together, they can continue to work together in a ‘mayoral bubble’.

Cllr Bryant said: “The Mayoress and I are delighted to be able to switch on Fareham’s Christmas lights. Like so many things the switch-on is different this year. We hope that by lighting up the town, we can bring some festive cheer, in what has been such a difficult time for everyone. We’d like to wish all our residents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

The annual Christmas lights switch-on is usually a great opportunity for local traders, with a busy festive market in the town centre. As that won’t be able to take place this year, the Council is promoting local traders on its website with an online market. You can find photos and links to their products, and watch the Christmas lights video, here: www.fareham.gov.uk/christmaslights