AN ANNUAL celebration is set to go ahead after 3,000 lanterns were provided by a town council.

Carterton’s festive parade was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but that has not stopped the town pulling together to reimagine the event.

This year, lanterns will go on display outside or in the windows of homes across the town.

The Messy Church team at St John’s church organised the ‘light up the town with a message of hope’ event with more than 200 lantern kits distributed.

Now, the town’s council has provided 3,000 lantern kits to children in readiness for the big switch on, on November 27.

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Jill Bull, West Oxfordshire district councillor for Carterton North West and the town’s deputy mayor, said: “We were determined to keep the project alive – it has become a tradition since starting eight years ago and it’s a real morale boost for everyone involved.

“Every child in the town will be able to make a lantern from a kit and the idea is that we light up the whole town, not just the centre.

“It promises to be a wonderful show and a real ray of light during these challenging times.”

On the day, mayor Nick Leverton will take to the streets to see the lanterns.