Axminster will have a "sparkling" Christmas despite fears that the new COVID-19 lockdown will be extended beyond the government 's December 2nd end date and through the festive period.

That's the promise Cindy Furse from the Light Up Axminster organisation has made to local traders following the government's announcement the whole country will be placed into lockdown again as from Thursday pending expected approval from Parliament this week.

Light Up Axminster recently announced their plans for "alternative" annual Christmas celebrations, pointing out that coronavirus had "severely hampered" their fundraising activities during the year.

But Cindy said the Christmas lights would still go ahead and they were hoping to pull together a range of activities and events to give the town "a special Christmas this year".

Events and activities already being planned included:

• Christmas Light Switch-On
• Best Dressed Shop Window competition
• Best Dressed Residential Window competition
• Totally Locally Christmas Trail
• Virtual Carol Concert
• Dedicated Social media pages for the community to contribute their own events, activities and photos

Following Boris Johnson's announcement on Saturday that a further lockdown was being introduced from Thursday, Cindy has assured the traders of Axminster that "Christmas WILL happen in Axminster".

She said the Christmas lights were definitely going up and a plan was being put together for that to happen.

In a posting on social media she said: "There are more Christmas trees going up. We'll be launching the Christmas Window competitions for both businesses and residential properties in the next week.

"We are working really hard to make sure Axminster is bright and sparkling more than ever this year."

• Light Up Axminster was formed in January 2017 in response to an open meeting held in November 2016 to discuss the future of the town's Christmas lights.  Since the first open meeting the group decided to focus not only on Christmas lights, but bringing the community together through events and activities. Since formation their events have included a lantern parade in 2019 and a week-long Cherry Fayre which included a number of activities and events.