Oakham’s Christmas lights are switched on by Catmose Primary pupil

A schoolgirl had the honour of switching on a town’s Christmas lights after winning a raffle.

Ten-year-old Maddie, from Catmose Primary in Oakham, braved the weather to attend the event with a friend on Sunday (December 3).

Mayor Sally-Anne Wadsworth had been running a raffle to win the opportunity to turn on the lights, and Maddie’s name was pulled out.

Sally-Anne said: “We had quite a nice little crowd come along despite the fact it was so cold and wet. Everyone was happy to be there and I loved being out in the town meeting people.”

A small selection of stalls and fair rides were running during the event and Oakham Town Council served refreshments with donations going to the Rutland Community First Responders.

Rutland’s next Christmas events include Uppingham’s late-night shopping which takes place on Thursday (December 7) around the Market Place, High Street East and High Street West. The lights will be switched on at 5.30pm with many shops staying open until 9pm.

A Christmas tree festival opens at Victoria Hall in High Street, Oakham, on Monday, December 11 ahead of the town’s late-night shopping event the same evening.