Marlow Town Council aims to build funds to support the Christmas lights for the next 10 years, following the success of last week’s switch on and shop event.

Mayor, Cllr Bob Johnson said the lights are vitally important to Marlow, and the council will endeavour to make sure they remain a festive tradition for years to come.

This comes after the famous festive lights came under threat last year when Wycombe District Council funding was stopped following devolution of the job to the town council three years ago.

Cllr Johnson said: “We will build on our existing reserves, with any over in one year, going into the reserves for the following years.

“This years ' Message in a Bauble ' which is then hung on the town Christmas Tree, has also been very well supported. So there is a great thank you to all the residents and businesses who have contributed in so many ways.

“We’d like to thank all our sponsors for supporting our spectacular Christmas lights - especially the Shanly Foundation who have so generously sponsored the lights over the last couple of years."

Moving forward the council hopes the sponsorship campaign for the 2016 lights will be well underway by the end of next summer.

Sir Steve Redgrave stressed the importance of making sure the festive lights remain a Marlow tradition on the High Street in coming years as he lit up the town from the top of a double decked bus on Thursday, November 19.

Addressing the crowd of thousands he said: “I have lived in Marlow all my life and so did my family. We go back a long way. It is a wonderful town to be a part of and I just love the community.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone involved in making this happen. It is so important that the Christmas lights get the funding they need so they remain a part of Marlow year after year.”

Shops stated open late on the night of the switch on and shop event and crowds were entertained with music from Marlow FM and Next Stage Choir.