THE centrepiece of this year's Calne Christmas Lights switch-on event on Saturday will be a 'river of light', created when hundreds of residents parade through the town with handmade lanterns.
Calne Town Council's community development officer Mark Wilkins came up with the idea when he watched the spectacular lantern procession at the closing ceremony of Manchester's Commonwealth Games.
For the last two weeks residents have taken part in workshops at the Corn Exchange where they have learned how to make 2ft and 3ft
willow and tissue paper lanterns. Mr Wilkins said he hoped to establish the workshops and the parade as a unique event, which will attract visitors to the town's Christmas event.
The pyramid-shaped lanterns are decorated with fish, reflecting this year's theme, the River Marden. It was chosen because organisers wanted people to be able to use the lanterns all year round.
"The Christmas celebrations are all about the community and Calne is becoming recognised as one of the most community-focused towns around," he said.
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