TOMORROW night's Christmas lights switch-on event in Wellington has been cancelled by the town council due to a Met Office yellow weather warning for wind. 

The town's Christmas lights will still be switched on tomorrow (Saturday, November 27), but without the ceremony scheduled to take place from 2pm. 

The switch-on event was set to feature Christmas songs, musical acts, pantomime, street entertainment, and a visit from Father Christmas. 

The event has been cancelled for safety reasons after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind in Somerset. 

Dave Farrow, Wellington Town Council clerk, said: "It is with real regret that we have to announce that tomorrow's Christmas lights switch-on event has been cancelled.

"The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind which, until a day or so ago, had shown that the strong winds would die out by Saturday lunchtime. 

"Unfortunately, it is now showing that there will be gale-force winds with gusts of between 41 and 47mph through Saturday afternoon."

Wellington Town Council's announcement comes shortly after a popular food and drinks festival cancelled an event scheduled to take place in Hammet Street, Taunton, tomorrow.  

Mr Farrow added: "The key wording in the yellow warning explanation is 'injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible' and 'some damage to trees, temporary structures and buildings such as tiles being blown from roofs, could happen'. 

"In that context, it would not be sensible to go ahead – we have to put the health and safety of the community first.

"The team at the town council has been working hard to put on the event, and were looking forward to running it, so we are as disappointed as I am sure everyone else is that it will now not be taking place.

"We will still be making sure the lights are turned on tomorrow, it will just be without the ceremony."

Street entertainers are still scheduled to perform in Wellington town centre on December 4, 11 and 18.