CLEETHORPES'S festive season is officially underway after the resort's illuminations were switched on last night.
The St Peter's Avenue Christmas tree and lights as well as the tree at the Memorial Hall were illuminated with Christmas now just a month away.
Despite a freezing cold night there was a healthy turnout for the big switch-on at St Peter's Church, which saw the mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Peggy Elliott, push the all-important red button.
"It was great to switch on the lights and welcome in the Christmas spirit, the lights really do herald the start of a special few weeks," she said.
St Peter's Church is now home to a beautiful 21-foot Norwegian Spruce, kindly paid for by ward councillors Mick Burnett, Matthew Brown and Terry Thorogood.
Council leader Chris Shaw said he hoped the festive season would give local high streets a boost.
"It is really important that the Christmas season brings in the shoppers to help our traders to thrive," he said. Ths switch-on is the real start of the festive season and it is fantastic to see so many people here to witness it."
Earlier, the lights on the Christmas tree at the Memorial Hall were switched on by the cast of the Parkway Cinema's upcoming pantomine, Snow White.
The cinema kindly donated the tree while local electrical firm McCann's and the council's grounds maintenance team also lent a hand.
Cleethorpes In Bloom chairman Bob Callison said: "The tree is right at the gateway to Cleethorpes and will give people a lift as they come in to town. With the current economy the way it is and the doom and gloom around, what better time to spread some Christmas feeling?"
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