IT was not a case of everything being back to normal for Christmas but local communities nevertheless heralded the season with festive lights displays.

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While Buckie witnessed some semblance of the usual Christmas lights switch on at the finale of Buckie Christmas Kracker, other local communities adopted a more low key approach.

In Findochty the usual hubbub which has accompanied previous light switch-ons and the community Christmas fair were absent this time around, although the displays themselves were brought into sparkling life by relatives of late Findochty Christmas Lights Committee stalwart Bob Sutherland.

Portknockie's Millennium Garden is once again a cradle of festive cheer thanks to the dedicated team of volunteers at the local community association. However, again due to Covid concerns, there was no switching on ceremony to mark the occasion or teas afterwards.

Other communities, including Fochabers, had to put their planned light switch-ons on hold thanks to the rampages of Storm Arwen while Portgordon's switch-on was delayed due to electrical issues.

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