Christmas lights switch-on cancelled due to snow

The Christmas lights switch-on in Pickering has been cancelled due to an expected snowstorm

A Christmas lights switch-on ceremony in a market town has been cancelled after weather warnings for snow and high winds were issued.

Pickering Town Council took the decision to call off Saturday's outdoor event, which involved stage entertainment, fairground rides and a Santa sleigh operated by the Ryedale Lions Club.

They added that the switch-on could not be rescheduled because the road closures required had to be applied for three months in advance.

The Met Office has put out a yellow warning for snow and rain from 04:00 BST on Saturday to 09:00 BST on Sunday for North Yorkshire, and the incoming Storm Bert could bring high winds and flooding.

A spokesperson said: “The town council has made the difficult decision to cancel the Christmas lights switch-on event scheduled for tomorrow due to the weather warning issued for heavy rain and with wind gusts predicted to be over 45mph.

“This outdoor event involved fairground rides, entertainment on a hired stage with sound and lighting, and the Ryedale Lions with their Santa sleigh.

“The Town Council has worked incredibly hard planning this event since the beginning of the year, but the safety of the public and volunteers has to be our main priority.

“Unfortunately, it will not be possible to reschedule the event as the road closure has to be applied for at least three months in advance, but we hope to welcome our residents and visitors to the community events that we will be holding in Pickering in 2025 when we will hopefully have better weather.”

Parts of North Yorkshire have already seen snow and ice hit earlier in the week.

County councillor Keane Duncan said on Wednesday there had been “significant snowfall up on the coastal areas, particularly up on the higher ground in the North York Moors”.

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