But North End's Christmas lights failed to spark into life when only nine of the 22 lights actually came on.

Organisers believe the lights were struck by a lorry or a bus earlier in the week.

But the damage wasn't noticed until they were about to be officially switched on on Wednesday evening.

Colin Walker, the city council's shopping centre manager for Cosham and North End, said: 'It looks like a bus or a lorry drove into three or four lights.

'Just before the switch-on, I noticed the lights were out of shape.

'The lights and their fittings were twisted around, and it seems they knocked out a circuit. None of the lights down from Kingston Crescent went on, unfortunately.'

Despite many of the lights failing, organisers said scores of youngsters and adults enjoyed the event, which included a short church service and carol sing-along in London Road, led by St Mark's Church choir and Portsmouth City Band.

Mr Walker said: 'After the ceremony going so well, we can say the glass is half-full.

'We couldn't really help it happening, but we apologise.'

The lights, which stretch from London Road's junction with Stubbington Avenue to Lake Road, were due to be fixed by today.

Eric Coleborn, who runs the Glass and Mirror Centre in Kingston Road, North End, and is chairman of the Kingston Traders Associa- tion, said: 'They went on on Wednesday but obviously not all of them did.

'We're not blaming anybody for this, but we love the Christmas lights and it makes the whole road look nicer.'

n Only Fools and Horses star Sue Holderness, who played Marlene in the BBC comedy, will turn on Fareham's Christmas lights tomorrow.

Sue, who will be starring in the Ferneham Hall panto, Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, will be on stage in West Street for the big switch-on at 4.30pm.

n Cosham's lights will be turned on this Wednesday, with the cast of Alice in Wonderland at the New Theatre Royal making an appearance.

The event, which will include a grand display of fireworks, starts in the High Street precinct at 4pm, with the official switch-on an hour later.

Entertainment will continue until 6.30pm.