Teddington’s “biggest ever” Christmas lights switch-on event this year came very close to not happening at all.

Less than a month before the event on November 29, it had been cancelled because of a lack of funds, and it took a small group of people making a huge effort to save the switch-on for the community.

In challenging times for the high street, the local traders who usually donate towards the costs of the event had not come up with enough money, and the organisers were forced to cancel with just six weeks to go.

Bhavana Patel, who has been running the switch-on for the last five years as chair of Teddington Together, said: “Social media went ballistic. Local businesses were not happy – lots of them rely on it for trading.

“But we didn’t realise how big and how important it was for the community until we said we couldn’t do it.”

Ms Patel said lots of people were surprised that it was not the council who put the event on, but rather a small group of organisers with money from the town’s businesses.

She said it was “a real wake-up call for everyone”.

Polly Dunn, manager at the King’s Head pub, rounded up some money from the traders – about £2,500, but still not enough for the event.

And this spurred resident Lisa Wyborn on to try to raise what else the organisers needed – about the same again – from the public.

She said: “I go every year, and have for the last five years. It’s one of my favourite nights of the year.

“To me it’s the only real community event every year that everyone recognises, and everyone goes to. I’ve always loved it.

“I thought ‘hold on – why can’t residents help?’ I know so many people who love it.

“I set up a Just Giving page and lo and behold, within three or four days we had raised £3,765.”

Richmond Council also met with Teddington Together and agreed to waive its fee for the road closures, subsidised its charge for street cleaning and negotiated with Transport for London to drop the charges for diverting buses.

And council staff spent hours helping the team navigate the paperwork required.

Ms Wyborn said the process was “a combination of several people’s efforts”, and paid particular tribute to Ms Dunn at the King’s Head and to Robert King at estate agent Jackson-Stops.

On November 5, the council announced the event was back on.

Ms Wyborn said: “It really has been a case of everyone working as hard as we can.

“We’ve spent three weeks doing work that usually starts in July.”

Ms Patel said about the event: “It was crazy, but really good. I think it was the biggest it’s ever been; the whole town was out.

“And so many people there were saying that they couldn’t believe three weeks ago this wasn’t happening.”

Preparation for next year’s event will start in January.

Ms Patel said: “The Just Giving page showed how important it is to residents in Teddington.

“I’m more optimistic about next year. People have come forward to say that they can help in various areas.

“Our goal, because we had such little time, was just to make the town look great for Christmas. Hopefully next year we will be in a better position.”