An English town’s Christmas lights switch-on has gained attention online after it did not go quite as planned.
Video of the event, posted on social media by Bridgwater Town Council, shows two local dignitaries pushing down a large detonator-style switch ostensibly to turn on the display.
?✨The Town Council have funded the festive lights with Robson’s Electrics and Secret Valley sponsoring the tree, meaning our town will be beautifully lit up to help spread some cheer. The Mayor, Cllr Redman and the Chair of Sedgemoor District Council switched the lights on earlier this evening. Unfortunately no snowflake event this, due to COVID-19.
AdvertisementPosted by Bridgwater Town Council on Friday, November 20, 2020
However, lights visible behind the pair – Bridgwater mayor Leigh Redman and Peter Clayton, chairman of Sedgemoor District Council – appeared to switch on before they had pushed it down.
The clip was originally posted a week ago by the council but has attracted attention over the last 24 hours after appearing on Twitter and being viewed more than 400,000 times.
One Twitter user wrote: “Who’d of thought those over sized light switch leavers didn’t actually turn Christmas lights on. My childhood memories are ruined.”
Another, Eugene Byrne, joked: “Everyone laughing at this and thinking it’s an error of timing is mistaken.
“Since 1738, the annual switching on of the Christmas illuminations in Bridgwater has been followed a moment later by the traditional crushing-to-death of a small animal by the Mayor and Town Clerk.
Great to turn on Bridgwater town Christmas lights tonight ⛄👍👍
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.#christmaslights pic.twitter.com/EVLvVOAw7P— Bridgwater Mayor (@Townmayor) November 20, 2020
BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James retweeted the video, saying: “THANK YOU COMEDY GODS. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.”
Those involved in the video also saw the funny side.
The council tweeted: “Absolutely glad the lights bring more happiness than we planned!”
And Cllr Redman joked on Twitter: “No longer suffering premature illumination.”
