A TOWN which feared losing its Christmas lights forever has been promised the best display of all time by event organisers.

Hundreds of residents and visitors are expected in Bury St Edmunds for the turning on of the festive lights on Thursday.

Last year, it was feared it could lose the lights because the town council decided it could no longer afford to manage them on its own.

It claimed the cost of maintaining, storing and putting on the event was costing about £50,000 each year and voted to sell them off unless anybody came forward to take them on.

In January, Bury MP David Ruffley convened a special meeting to try and save the lights and a new committee was set up, bringing together a number of organisations in the town, including the town council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and the Town Centre Management Group.

The lights were saved and organisers are now promising to lay on a better display than in previous years.

Richard Rout, chairman of Bury St Edmunds Town Council, said: 'I am delighted, especially since there was all the talk at the beginning of the year about selling off the lights.

'Steve Peters (the town centre manager) has done a superb job. We've got a better display this year than we had last year. It is amazing really.'

Bob Cockle, mayor of St Edmundsbury, said: 'I am extremely please it has worked out and with the help of outside businesses getting involved we will have more lights up this year than in previous years.'

The switch-on event will be led by BBC Look East weathergirl Julie Reinger.

As well as the lights, organisers are planning a night of entertainment including live bands, elves, pantomime dames and Father Christmas.

The event marks the start of late night shopping in the town, which will run every Thursday until December 25.

Visitors will be offered free parking from 4pm on late night shopping days.

A spokeswoman for St Edmundsbury Borough Council said: 'In addition to the host of festive activities on offer, special markets will also be held during the Sundays running up to Christmas.

'The markets, which will compliment the regular markets held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, will start on November 30 and run every Sunday up to and including December 21.'