HUNDREDS of people gathered in a Weymouth park to create some magic and light up the night. 

As the sun was going down on Sunday evening, crowds headed to Lodmoor Park to decorate lanterns for Weymouth’s annual Sparkle in the Park torchlight procession.

Organised by the Friends of Lodmoor Park community group, the event aims to bring the community together to enjoy the outdoors and spread a little Christmas magic. 

Dinah Ellis, chairman of the Friends of Lodmoor County Park, said: "It's been a very successful year. We started setting up since 1pm and I've got a fantastic team of volunteers here. We opened up to the public at 3.30pm and it's been heaving ever since."

The community group provided free craft materials to children and families to make and decorate their own tealight lanterns from jam jars. 
Once it went dark, the lanterns were lit and families began to stroll around the woodland walk creating a stunning twinkling scene. 

One mother who had brought her daughter to the event said: "When I first moved to the park area I didn't think their was much community activity going on - but you scratch the surface and there is so much. It's a wonderful event and it's so nice to see so many people out here."

The event was first held in 2010 and marks the start of Christmas celebrations in the Weymouth area.

Dinah said: "It was the best group atmosphere that we've ever had.

"It all began when the Friends of Lodmoor thought 'wouldn't it be nice to have Christmas lights in the park' but there was no electricity. This was a low key and sustainable way of doing it and the friends have always liked old fashioned activities like this that get people outdoors."

Dinah added the event had always been and would always be completely free as it was about bringing people in the community together. 

"People just love to come to do something for free that involves the community. We want to involve families as we need them on board," she said. 

The Friends of Lodmoor works in partnership with the borough council to improve the country park, make the park look more cared for and keep it user friendly by encouraging people to enjoy its special qualities.