Candlelit Dartmouth has been hailed the biggest and best Christmas celebration of its kind so far.

And that is despite the fact that it almost never happened.

Hundreds of people poured into the town centre to watch or take part in the now traditional candlelit parade.

Santa turned up by boat – even if he did have to hitch a lift into the Boatfloat so he could get ashore.

The town got switched on by mayor Paul Allen.

And the townspeople were entertained with carol singing and music around the Royal Avenue Gardens Christmas tree.

But the two-day event of fun and candles very nearly did not happen this year as organisers came close to calling it a day.

And it only went ahead financially after an appeal to local businesses brought in an extra £1,200 to help fund the major event.

Candlelit Dartmouth committee chairman Steve Thomas said after the weekend of music, markets, candles and Santa: 'It went stunningly well. It was really good. The weather was absolutely superb. It was dry, no wind, sunny and cold.

'I think that overall it was the biggest and best we have had. In other years we have had lull periods when not a lot was happening but this year it seemed to sustain the crowds throughout the weekend.'

He pointed out that this year Candlelit Dartmouth almost never happened after many of the organising committe members decided to call it a day.

It still needs people to step in to the breach if it is to be a similar success next year, warned Mr Thomas.

The event costs around £5,000 to put on and because of the uncertainty over its future this year some of the fund raising that would normally have gone on did not happen.

'This year was the first year since 2007 that I have needed to go out to the town businesses to raise some funding.

'Generally I don't like to do that. I now that times are hard for traders and I would much rather the money came in from people who come and enjoy the event through collections, the sale of mulled wine and the traders' pitches.'

The two days of fun kicked off with a Christmas market in the Royal Avenue Gardens. The BRNC choir teamed up with the college's volunteer band to sing carols around the town Christmas tree.

The lights on the tree and around the Boatfloat were switched on by town mayor Paul Allen as part of the Friday evening events.

Santa turned up by BRNC boat only to discover the tide was too low to get him into the Boatfloat.

But town councillor Chris Smith sailed in to save the day by meeting him with a smaller boat to bring him into the Boatfloat where he landed before heading for the Royal Avenue Gardens to hand out sweets to children.

Pupils from Dartmouth Academy also laid on entertainment on both days which included a market in the Old Market.

The two days culminated in the lantern procession finale around the town.

'The Royal Avenue Gardens was full of people and lanterns by the time it finished,' said Mr Thomas.

Mr Thomas said he was now looking towards next year's candlelit event – and ways of filling the funding gap.

He said he wanted to appeal to businesses for help as he explained: 'If businesses felt that they did benefit – and there is no question that the number of people in the town increased over the weekend – it is not too late for them to put their hands in their pockets towards next year's event.'

More stories and pictures in this week's Chronicle