Festive lights in a north-east town centre flickered to life at the weekend following a massive volunteer effort to ensure the town shines bright this Christmas.
Peterhead faced a race against time this year to raise thousands of pounds needed to pay for lights as part of the annual festive celebrations.
A group of volunteers, Light Up Peterhead, headed by local woman Shirley Duthie had to frantically find £3,000 to fill a funding black hole after last’s year group stood down, and urged locals to donate.
Earlier this month, the group hit its target with time to spare and began hanging the lights throughout the port’s main shopping district, Drummer’s Corner, on Friday night.
The town’s 20ft Christmas tree was also wrapped in a string of lights ahead of the official switch-on.
On Saturday, hundreds of locals made their way to the town centre to watch the much-loved lights come to life.
Throughout the day, events featuring local groups, including singers and dancers, entertained shoppers before the ceremony was topped off by Aberdeenshire circus troupe, Theatre Modo.
Modo wowed the crowds with fire tricks, while 12ft tall Christmas characters urged the crowd to get involved in the countdown.
Ms Duthie addressed everyone who had gathered by the tree and thanked those who had donated money.
She said that the town’s previous Christmas light committee had appealed for new members to come forward to take on he running of the lights, but that no one had taken on the task yet.
“We hope the town will get behind us and judging by the response so far, it seems like they are,” she added.
Theatre Modo’s Theresa Ritchie praised the volunteers who made the switch-on possible.
“The more they raised, the more lights could be put up,” she said.
In neighbouring Fraserburgh, campaigners had been collecting money since September to light up the town centre and, thanks to local firms, met its £2,500 target.
Oor Braw Broch will switch on the town’s lights at its annual late-night shopping event on Friday.