Villagers gathered in true English fashion to sing carols and count down the Thames Ditton Christmas light switch on, only for the lights to fail.

Heavy rain had damaged the electrics on the lime tree’s main lights, leaving special guest Downton Abbey star Lesley Nichol with no lights to switch on.

The TV star was also left huddling in a funeral parlour, sheltering from the downpour, adding to the quirkiness of the occasion.

But cheerful villagers ploughed on with the event unperturbed, singing carols from under their umbrellas, and about 80 people turned out for the event.

Mini Christmas trees above the shop fronts came on via automatic timers so the village looked pretty, but the tree remained unlit for the official switch-on on Thursday, December 1.

One villager said: “A great many people put a lot of hard work into this and will be devastated that things didn’t turn out as planned.

“However, in some ways it was kind of endearing moment you find in some of the best sitcoms, like Last of the Summer Wine.”

Tricia Welch, of Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents' Association said it was a brilliant event.

She said: "It was absolutely fantastic and we were laughing about it in the end, as you do when you build something up for so long and it goes wrong.

"The heavens opened and it was pouring down, but Lesley was great, she was a real trouper and took it in the spirit of things.

"The lime tree sprung to life unexpectedly about an hour later, but tis didn't happen when it should have. I guess you just have to go with it when that happens."