Christmas lights have sparkled to life

Christmas has officially arrived in Torquay.

The town's Christmas lights were switched on by Torbay MP Steve Darling with a little help from guide dog Jenny.

Members of the Torquay Town Centre partnership were also at the event.

They and Torbay Council help finance the festive illuminations.

So does income from the town centre market, which is organised by Steve Holdup.

Steve and his Torbay Display company have been putting the Christmas lights up in Torquay and at other locations around the Bay for decades.

An informal reception was held at jewellers Conroy Couch to mark the switch on.

Boss David Rowe makes sure his business—and his other jewellers, Regina Rowe, just down the road in Union Street—are all lit up for the festivities.

He says: "The lights are absolutely fantastic - the best ever."