On the first weekend of Advent, the region truly got into the Christmas spirit with trees and coloured lights going up in town centres across Suffolk and north Essex.

Ipswich Star: Colchester lights switch on.Colchester lights switch on.

In Felixstowe organisers were confronted by a problem faced by millions of families across the country every year.

You put up the Christmas decorations, cover the tree with lights, turn them on and then the fuse blows.

However when that happened in the middle of Felixstowe on Saturday evening the crowds that had gathered for the big night were determined not to let it get them down.

Ipswich Star: Colchester lights switch on.Colchester lights switch on.

Town mayor Doreen Savage said no one allowed the lights to spoil the big day: “It was a fabulous day and everyone had a great time.

“All the other lights went on, and from where I switched them on I couldn’t see that the tree was not on. But I’m sure it will be sorted out.”

John Gooch from the Lions Club, which organised the event, said the problem was caused by the number of lights on the tree overloading a fuse.

Ipswich Star: Colchester lights switch on.Colchester lights switch on.

“We’d tried them all individually, but when we put them all on together it was too much for the fuse.”

He said organisers were hoping to get a new fuse fitted on Monday – after which the tree should be lit up in all its glory.

Colchester had its big switch-on at the end of Sunday afternoon shopping when the town centre was turned into winter wonderland.

Ipswich Star: Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage switches on the lights helped by Elise Gorski, Peggy Osborne, and Ash and Lila Tadjrishi.Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage switches on the lights helped by Elise Gorski, Peggy Osborne, and Ash and Lila Tadjrishi.

Soap opera star Hayley Tammadon joined the Mayor of Colchester Theresa Higgins to get the town’s seasonal celebrations underway as they switched on the new display of stars and baubles in the High Street at 4.30pm.

Bill Frame, Colchester Borough Council’s portfolio holder for economic development, said the town was “buzzing”.

He added: “It was really good, everyone was pleased and it started off the festive season.”

Ipswich Star: Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage switches on the lights helped by Elise Gorski, Peggy Osborne, and Ash and Lila Tadjrishi.Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage switches on the lights helped by Elise Gorski, Peggy Osborne, and Ash and Lila Tadjrishi.

Celebratory cheers and festive songs echoed out around a town centre as hundreds of people turned out for the Christmas lights switch-on event in Southwold.

With the popular annual tradition being held on a Saturday evening for the first time in many years, organisers and businesses were delighted with how the event had gone.

Staff at a number of shops throughout the town centre decorated their front windows and dressed in a range of Disney outfits for the occasion, and after town mayor Melanie Tucker had welcomed the crowds to the “community event,” there were loud cheers as Father Christmas led the special countdown before the lights illuminated the town.

Ipswich Star: Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage switches on the lights helped by Elise Gorski, Peggy Osborne, and Ash and Lila Tadjrishi.Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage switches on the lights helped by Elise Gorski, Peggy Osborne, and Ash and Lila Tadjrishi.

Ipswich Star: Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage switches on the lights helped by Elise Gorski, Peggy Osborne, and Ash and Lila Tadjrishi.Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage switches on the lights helped by Elise Gorski, Peggy Osborne, and Ash and Lila Tadjrishi.