Trafalgar Roundabout in Truro is being transformed for the festive season with a spectacular lit-up model of Truro Cathedral, which will be switched-on daily from this Wednesday, November 18.

The new Christmas lighting, which is part of Truro’s City Centre Christmas Lights Scheme, is 4.5m wide, and its tallest spire measures 3.8m high.

The light installation is one of the first to be delivered as part of Truro’s £750,000 Accelerated Fund award from the government’s Towns Fund, announced in September.

The Towns Fund is aimed at unleashing economic growth potential with a focus on regeneration. Truro is one of 101 UK towns selected to bid for investment for up to £25 million, and Truro Town Deal Board is currently developing projects and an investment plan for submission in January.

The Cathedral Christmas Light motif will be featured in Truro’s first Virtual Christmas Lights Switch-on which is being streamed at 6.55pm on Wednesday, November 18 via Pirate FM’s Facebook page - @piratefm.

Carole Theobald, chair of Truro Town Deal Board, said: “Truro’s Christmas lights are an important part of the economic picture in the city. It’s been a tough year for our businesses and retailers, so this is a welcome funding award to continue to invest in our lights displays. Truro BID have commissioned this beautiful light installation which will help draw people into the city for years to come.”

Alun Jones, Truro BID manager added: “We thought that a Christmas light motif in the shape of the cathedral would be perfect for our great little city, so we were delighted to receive the Accelerated Fund Award. Along with additional new lighting in the city centre, the Cathedral Christmas Light will bring some welcome festive cheer to Truro this year.

"It’s more important than ever to support Truro’s shops and eateries this festive season. Details of which businesses are still trading during lockdown, including those offering takeaways, deliveries, and click and collect services at www.visittruro.org.uk.

"Both the cathedral installation and the city centre lights will be lit up daily in the late afternoon from Thursday 19th November 19. Once lockdowns restrictions are lifted, people are being urged to come to Truro for their Christmas shopping and enjoy all the festive lights.”

There will be three late night shopping Wednesdays from December 9, where the main shopping streets will be closed to traffic until 9pm to giving people space to shop, eat and drink if the second national lockdown restrictions end on December 3.

Truro’s City Centre Christmas Lights are funded and installed by Truro Businesses Improvement District (BID) via the BID levy contributions from around 400 Truro Businesses, along with donations from both Truro’s Town Crier Lionel Knight and his wife Carol Knight.

Truro BID funded the installation of the Cathedral Christmas Light onto Trafalgar Roundabout and in future years will continue to fund the installations and maintenance of the specular light.

All of the Truro’s Christmas Lights will be illuminating the city until the twelfth night on Tuesday 5 January 2021.