IT was a close call, but the lights were eventually switched on and everyone was ready to celebrate Christmas in spectacular style at Throckmorton.

The villagers thought they were going to be left in the gloom this year as Energy Services had failed to connect the power to their new £175,000 village hall.

But following a story in the Worcester News reporting the villagers' plight, the company turned up at the 11th hour to install a new pole and cabling so that npower could connect the electricity. Villagers were then able to put up £2,500 of Christmas lights the parish had won in a competition run by Energy Services' sister company Central Networks.

Charles Tucker, member of the Throckmorton village charity which helped raise funds for the new building, said: "It is an excellent present for the village. We are thrilled the electricity is connected up. It is a really lovely feeling to see the Christmas lights around the building."