Middleton-in-Teesdale sparkles at switch-on event

THE Christmas lights group in Middleton-in-Teesdale has praised the community for making this year’s display one of the best.

The lights were turned on at a ceremony on Saturday.

Committee member Christine Mitchell said: “We are just a small community but we have a lot of committed helpers. “Over the years we have had a lot of maintenance and we have struggled to make the displays new and fresh but this year there has been a big push.”

Lord Barnard provided the tree with help from Middleton Forge and Mickleton Engineering to put it in place. Middleton and Teesdale Silver Band offered musical accompaniment for the afternoon’s carols before 11-year-old Laura Thompson hit the light switch.

Another popular addition was the family of wooden snowmen outside the old Methodist Chapel erected by Paul Benson.

Father Christmas capped off the afternoon with a special appearance at the Masonic Hall.

There was also plenty on offer at the auction mart earlier in the day with more than 50 stallholders plying their wares at the fifth annual fair.

Organiser Emma Spry was pleased with the turnout. “It’s gone really well – we’ve had well over 300 people come through the door,” she added. “I think we had 40 stalls last year and this year we’ve only had three this year who could not get out because of snow.”

Neighbours have also been urged to get into the festive spirit with a specially arranged lights competition.

A call for more volunteers to pitch in with the lights in the coming years has also been sounded.

Ms Mitchell said: “We need more people as a lot of us are getting quite middle aged now. It would be done so much quicker if we had a bigger team.” The committee will be meeting in February to plan for next year’s display.

l For more pictures from Middleton and other switch-on events across the dale, see the Teesdale Mercury’s Countdown to Christmas pullout on December 6.