THE people of Wantage have a race against time to get the Christmas lights up again after they were destroyed just a day after being switched on.

Hundreds of families gathered as Market Place was transformed into a Victorian wonderland for Dickensian Evening on Friday.

Mayor St John Dickson and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey turned on the lights as the event was hailed the “best ever”.

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But the mayor said on Saturday night a driver crashed into one of the poles holding up the main canopy.

Mr Dickson said the town council would try to get a new pole to support the lights as soon as possible.