A star from hit costume drama Downton Abbey will light up Thames Ditton at its Christmas light switch on.
Lesley Nicol, who plays Mrs Patmore in the award-winning ITV show, will switch on the lights in Thames Ditton High Street at 6pm on Thursday, December 1.
The switch on is the result of a fundraising campaign by locals, co-ordinated by Tricia Bland, secretary of the Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents’ Association.
The campaign began more than a year ago, initially to light up the lime tree in the centre of the village.
It twinkled with 43 strings of lights for the first time during Christmas 2010 and phase two this year will see the majority of shops, businesses and residences lit up with individual trees.
Christmas carols will be sung by choirs on the night and organisers of the lights appeal are hoping the ceremony will become an annual highlight on the Thames Ditton calendar for years to come.
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