BROMYARD'S Christmas lights are often said to be the best in Herefordshire, so much so they've topped a Hereford Times poll for the last two years.

And this year is no different. People in the town felt the turnout had been higher than normal for its switch-on in November, with a day full of events and activities to keep families busy.

From a Christmas street market to Santa and his grotto, there were eight hours of events on Saturday, November 19.

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But now, the volunteers behind the town's impressive and renowned lights display have told of the incredible work which has been carried out over the last 12 months to get the lights ready for another year.

Hereford Times: The team behind Bromyard's Christmas lights. Picture: Bromyard Christmas Lights The team behind Bromyard's Christmas lights. Picture: Bromyard Christmas Lights

The displays, which run along several town centre streets, are all erected by a small band of about a dozen volunteers, financially supported by Bromyard and Winslow Town Council and public donations.

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New this year is a display called “Twelve Days of Christmas”, hung on the front of the Bromyard Centre in Cruxwell Street. It is made up of 14 panels, two musical notes and then the depictions of the twelve days.

Hereford Times: The new 'Twelve Days of Christmas' display outside Halo Leisure's Bromyard Centre. Picture: Bromyard Christmas Lights The new 'Twelve Days of Christmas' display outside Halo Leisure's Bromyard Centre. Picture: Bromyard Christmas Lights

Organisers said the sequence is to the time of the song, and is all operated from a computer controller – and anyone wanting to watch will need 10 minutes to see the whole sequence.

The festoon lighting has also been extended down Cruxwell Street to the public hall this year, a big job as varying building heights meant special brackets were needed.

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There are now uplighters on trees in the Market Square, and the owners of the former Crown and Sceptre pub in Sherford Street were keen to have some displays.

So the lights brigade, as the team is affectionately known, has mounted four candles which used to be up the top of town, plus two bells and, over the entrance to the left, a new Catherine wheel.

Hereford Times: The former Crown and Sceptre pub has been decorated more than usual this year. Picture: Bromyard Christmas Lights The former Crown and Sceptre pub has been decorated more than usual this year. Picture: Bromyard Christmas Lights

Santa’s sleigh has also been recreated, formerly near the square, where a huge angel now resides, rebuilt with LED lighting and now on the leisure centre.

There have been many repairs as well, with lights organisers saying that despite the extensions and new work, the display, which starts being erected in October, will still only consume just over 13 amps in total.

"There are no longer any filament lamp bulbs, and everything is now at the low 24 volts," they said.

"Our coloured lights are decidedly green."