RESIDENTS in Tilbury are looking forward to the annual switch on of the town's Christmas lights next week.

Unlike recent years there will be no official event or ceremony but thanks to continued support from the Port of Tilbury, Tilbury Riverside Project have ensured that the town will still have its popular festive array of decorations.

The lights will go up from Tuesday, 1 December.

The Tilbury Riverside Project have been adding sparkle to Tilbury for more than 20 years and normally the lights switch on is accompanied by Father Christmas arriving by vintage steam engine, singing and entertainment on a stage in the Civic Square and a fun fair and community stalls around the streets.

A spokesperson for the project said: "The Riverside Project is a small community organisation with a clear focus on bringing the community together always punch above their weight in bringing a little Christmas cheer to the town.

"Sadly this year the wonderful school singing and dancing performances from the amazing talented kids we have in Tilbury will not be taking place and we will all miss our community celebrity Les Morgan taking to the stage with his jokes to get everyone in the festive mood.

"However, the lights will still be shining brightly and the Project is committed to doing all they can, so we hope that next year's switch on will be bigger and better, especially as Les has had a full year to come up with some more comedy materiel!

"Many people will know that Peter Hewitt who started the Tilbury Riverside Project passed away this year but it's lovely to see his legacy lighting up Tilbury still."

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Paul Dale from the Port of Tilbury said: "The Port has always supported the Tilbury Riverside Project and the work it does to put up the Christmas lights in Tilbury, this year in particular we need to focus on our local community and Tilbury Riverside Project as a voluntary organisation have again worked hard despite all the restrictions to bring some Christmas cheer to Tilbury Town."

Tilbury Riverside Project manager Annie O'Brien has expressed her thanks to the port for their continued support for the Project, adding: "Without this generous funding from the Port, the Tilbury Christmas lights would not happen."