WREXHAM will not be having a big lights switch on this year - but don't worry Christmas has not been cancelled.

The light switch on in Queen's Square is traditionally when Christmas begins for people in Wrexham, heralding the arrival of Santa's Grotto, the festive market, and late night shopping in town.

But, in this very different year of 2020, that will not be possible as efforts continue to keep people safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Leader:

The Light Up Wrexham promotional poster

But people in Wrexham can still experience togetherness and show their Christmas spirit as they are invited to "Light Up Wrexham".

On November 19, at 7pm, people all over Wrexham are being urged to switch on their own Christmas lights in their homes, windows and front gardens.

They can then share them using the hashtag #lightupwrexham

The Leader:

In previous years the Christmas market and lights switch on has brought people into the town

Wrexham Council will still be putting up Christmas lights and a tree in the town centre, and the authority is backing Light Up Wrexham in place of the traditional event in the town centre.

One of the organisers of Light Up Wrexham, Bobbi Cockcroft said: "We want to try and remind people that life and Christmas are not cancelled.

"It's a nice way to take things back to the community. Yes it does take it away from the town centre unfortunately, but its not feasible or safe to have large crowds of people gather in the town at the moment.

"The lights switch on was always the start of Christmas for Wrexham, it was the start of late night shopping, it was the start of the market which unfortunately we haven't got this year. So its a symbolic gesture or notion that Christmas is still happening. If you go into the town from now on in there will be lights in the town and lights in the villages on the way home

"It's a visual reminder that Christmas is coming."

The Leader:

The poster is being distributed in English and Welsh

Bobbi added: "We all went out and did the Clap for Carers. I did it, my children did it, I've got family that work in the hospital. It was brilliant to see people come together.

"It's a nice way to pull people together in a collective way, but in a safe way, to keep that Christmas spirit going. To remind people that Christmas is still here, and we're still here in Wrexham."

Bobbi added that people don't need to do more to decorate more than they would normally do.

"There are so many people that decorate their homes for Christmas for charity or just for the enjoyment of it," she said.

"We thought wouldn't it be great to encourage people to do that, no matter how big or how small. It can be a few lights in your window or something on the front of your house or in your garden, any small contribution you feel like making just to make things more enjoyable as we are spending more time at home."