Eight beacons shone out through the rainy skies across Farnham tonight.

The beacons, provided by Farnham Town Council, shone from Badshot Lea, Rowledge, Wrecclesham, The Bourne, Farnham Castle, Central Farnham and Lower and Upper Hale where they were placed in the grounds of St John’s and St Mark’s.

Their lighting marked the beginning of the Christmas season in Farnham and the switching on of the Christmas lights across the town.

The beacons were warmly received across town with typical comments on social media being ‘heart-warming’, ‘beautiful’, ‘fabulous’, ‘amazing’. One man who turned up at St Mark’s took a selfie with the light and explained that he was doing so at all eight.

Towards the end the skies cleared and stars appeared and the evening felt just a little hopeful in this difficult year.