CHRISTMAS will be launched in Basildon town centre without an official lights switch-on.

Basildon Council says there will be still be Christmas lights but they will not be the focus of a launch event for the festive season.

The Basildon at Christmas event will be on Saturday November 20 from 10am with activities and entertainment across the whole town centre including the Eastgate Centre, Town Square.

The event will conclude with a fireworks display at 6pm at St Martin’s Square.

Families say they will be very disappointed without an official light switch-on.

Grandmother Pat Rackley, 71, of Laindon said: “People look forward to an official switch-on, especially if they have young children and I think this is nonsense.

“I don’t understand why someone is not doing it. There are lots of people who could do it such as Max Whitlock, or maybe a community figure.

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“I worry families will not want to go without something like this and it seems a bit cheap of the council. I think it’s even more important as so much of Christmas was cancelled last year.

“It’s like saying there will be no Father Christmas.”

There will be performances on a stage in St Martin’s Square including a Robbie Williams tribute act. The cast of this year’s Towngate Theatre Panto, Beauty and the Beast will also be making an appearance.

Council bosses say there will be plenty of other entertainment including Santa’s grottos in the Eastgate Centre.

There will also be festive walkabout entertainment in the Eastgate Centre including the Snowball Sprites, Ice Queen and the Elf, and a pair of stilt-walking Christmas Trees.

The event is a partnership between Basildon Council, The Eastgate Centre, Gateway 97.8, Basildon Town Centre Management, Basildon Market and Go Trade.

Craig Rimmer, Tory chairman of Basildon Council’s leisure and environment committee said: “There will not be a light switch-on with any razzmatazz. It’s a budget decision and also due to the Covid pandemic we cannot do everything 100 per cent.

“We are still doing other things including looking at bringing back Santa in the woods in Langdon Hills.”

Mayor of Basildon David Dadds, said he was pleased the Basildon at Christmas event is returning.

He said: “It’s an opportunity for the community to come together and get in the Christmas spirit whilst doing some festive shopping to boost the town’s –trade. There really is something for everyone to enjoy.”