Thousands of people packed out the streets of an Aberdeenshire town as an annual festive extravaganza was brought back from the brink of cancellation.
Just weeks ago the future of the Ellon Christmas lights switch-on was uncertain after the town’s community council, which organised the event, folded.
However, on Saturday Santa arrived at his grotto in the town’s Neil Ross Square before a festive parade took place and the streets were lit up the colours of Christmas.
To top things off at the end of the evening, a spectacular fireworks exhibition lit up the winter sky.
When Ellon Community Council’s numbers fell to just eight, the remaining members resigned in late October, leaving fears that Christmas in the town would be cancelled.
In the weeks afterwards, Aberdeenshire Council handpicked Ellon Events – which runs the Gig at the Brig every New Year – to take on the management of the Christmas celebrations, which has been running for more than a decade.
Last night chairman of the group, Wayne Baber, estimated between 4,000 and 6,000 people packed out the streets of Ellon for the switch-on.
He added what had “started off as negative” had turned into something “brilliant”.
Mr Baber said: “All that happened probably made it what it was. It made people realise that these things don’t just happen, you need to get out and make them happen.
“It definitely was a huge success as far as we are concerned. The organising went smoothly. We had lots of help from lots of different people and organisations within the town.
“And on the day, the public turned up and made it the success we all needed it to be.
“It was certainly festive, the chill helped make it feel festive. It was absolutely freezing.
“We were actually asked by the council to take it on. There wasn’t enough time to get a new licence application. They were happy to allow us a fast track licence.
“It was brilliant walking around at the parades thinking ‘we were part of this’.”
Mr Baber said Ellon Events would “love” to take on organising the event in future years.
He added: “There is a lot of technicalities around this. The lights actually belong to Ellon Community Council right now.
“If they reformed and decided they want to take it on, they will be allowed to. We would be more than welcome of the opportunity to take it on. We loved doing it, it is exactly what we do.
“We are pitching to be given the chance to make this a regular thing.”