TRADERS on Barry’s High Street gave a record-breaking crowd a glimpse of the future on Friday - with their Christmas lights programmed to twinkle in 2048!
The countdown to the grand switch-on left puzzled shoppers shrouded in darkness as the new illuminations failed to sparkle at the end of the countdown.
But a customer’s electrician husband, discovering the timer switch was at fault, assumed Father Christmas’ magical powers and ensured the popular shopping district ended up aglow!
High Street Traders chairman, Anthony Hopkins said: "I looked across to my shop, to see Ray shrugging his shoulders in dismay - my heart sank.
"I ran from the stage, battled through the crowds and down into the basement of my shop before the crowd had reached zero, only to see Chris standing at the main switchboard saying ‘it’s all dead!’ "But then I heard a customer say ‘My husband’s an electrician’.
"I dragged him downstairs and pleaded with him to get the lights on, and he figured that the new timer switch was set for the future – 2048 to be exact!
"To say that it put 20 years on me would be an understatement - and still not long enough for the timer clock!" he added.
"But the event was a great success, our biggest crowd yet and we've had some wonderful comments on how good the lights look."
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