AN ORGANISER of Ambleside’s spectacular Christmas lights switch-on has warned that the event could be snuffed out next year unless more funds are raised, reports Jane Renouf.

Stuart Ross, the acting chairman of the town’s Lights Committee, said a major sponsor was needed and more money had to come from individual contributions.

“It’s a wonderful day when Ambleside is completely at one, with crowds of people out on the streets having a marvellous time,” said Mr Ross. “But it doesn’t just happen – the lights cost between £13,000-£16,000 and every penny raised will count if we want to have the lights again next year.

“Lakes Parish Council gave us £5,000 this year, but we may not get this money next year if the council has other priorities for helping Ambleside, such as keeping the public toilets open.” He said one idea worth thinking about, which might attract more funding, was to expand the Community Lights event into a festival, with a chain of events leading up to Christmas. “There could be something special happening each weekend, perhaps with the help of local groups,” he said.

On Saturday, the town’s streets were thronged with thousands of people who had turned out to see the lanterns, festive lights and an extravaganza of glittering fireworks light up the skies over the town.

Proceedings began at Waterhead early on Saturday afternoon with the departure of the Santa Cruise, carrying nearly 300 children, parents and grandparents bound for Bowness Bay to pick up Santa. There were entertainments and presents for younger passengers and as the boat arrived back at Waterhead, Father Christmas was piped ashore by Mark Kynman on the bagpipes, accompanied by the Snow Princess, Laura Snowden, who is a pupil at Ambleside Primary School.

Santa switched on the lights of Waterhead, followed by the start of the lantern procession in the centre of the town.

Traffic was brought to a standstill for nearly an hour as a succession of people carrying lanterns in all shapes and sizes wound round the streets. More than 150 angels, stars and bells were made during recent half term lantern workshops but this year’s show-stealer was a fully-wired up model of the Windermere lake cruiser, The Teal, made by Dave Cunniffe of K2.

The river of light reached its climax at the Market Cross, where the chairman of Lakes Parish Council, Rod Sutton, performed the ceremonial switch-on of the lights. The lantern procession headed finally for Rothay Park, where Hot Stuff, a trio of fire jugglers, thrilled the crowds with spectacular stunts before the start of the firework display. This was funded by Windermere and Ambleside Lions Club.