And after years of planning, Helensburgh finally had a real 'switch on’, as the new lights in Colquhoun Square were turned on independently of the street lights for the first time.

With the CHORD project revamp of the square the festival space was put to good use, and a separate switch was installed to control the lights.

Five-year-old Ben Thompson pressed the magic button and first turned on his special stocking light, and then switched on all the lights in the square to a massive cheer from the crowd.

Vivien Dance, on behalf of everyone involved in the event, told the Advertiser: “Thank you to the people of Helensburgh for making this year’s Santa parade and Christmas lights switch on the best of nights, what a fantastic time the volunteers had and the welcome they received in the square was just like Christmas should be, magic and very special.

“How lucky we are to live in Helensburgh, where 90 adults and 80 children joined together to create the biggest Santa sleigh parade ever, with snowmen, fairies and elves enjoying every minute of riding behind Santa through the town and then around six thousand people waited in the square to give the parade the best of welcomes, carol singing, waving and cheering and making it all so special for the children. “Helensburgh even had its very own Christmas penguins, Lou and Stu, who, assisted by Tartan Harmony, entertained the crowd and led us all to the magic moment.

“The town can now enjoy the best lights in the west and the spectacle is a joy to see, everyone should be so proud of what Helensburgh has achieved and for coming together to make the children of the town believe they live in a special place.

“Thanks to those who made the parade possible, all the sleigh groups and their teams, Larry Malone and the council drivers, Chief Steward Ewan Lyall, Police Scotland and the Red Cross for safety and traffic arrangements, Scottish Water for sponsoring our new Santa sleigh and our local business sponsors, Speedy Hire, the Community Advertiser and the Commodore Hotel and last but not least the lighting team of Argyll and Bute Council and Chief Electrical Elf, Tony Dance whose 'electrical dream’ was finally realised on Friday. “It was a pleasure to work with you all and the Trustees of Friends of the Victoria Hall were delighted and overwhelmed with the unstinting support they received to create this event, nothing asked was too much trouble for anyone. Community spirit is not just alive in Helensburgh it is positively spectacular.”