Wimborne’S tradition of the town’s Militia firing muskets over the Christmas tree during the switch-on ceremony has been reinstated, after being banned last year.

Town mayor John Burden said he has come up with a compromise.

Last year Mr Burden, then deputy mayor, brought in the ban after many people said the noise of the muskets firing scared the children and they would keep them away.

But he then came under hostile fire from other members of the public who disagreed with the decision.

The Militia has been commissioned by the town council to “scour” the Christmas tree, which goes up in the town centre, for years.

Members of the Militia, which re-enacts traditions dating back to the 17th century, last year said they were shocked and saddened by the decision.

And town crier Chris Brown, a member of the Militia, said that mollycoddling children would not help them cope with the unexpected.

This year, the Christmas lights will be switched on at 4pm on Saturday November 28.

Cllr Burden said the crowd will be told both before and after radio presenter Alina Jenkins turns on the lights that five to 10 minutes later the muskets will be fired.

If the weather holds, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from the Tivoli Theatre will also be making an appearance.

Cllr Burden said: “I have always been in favour of the Militia.

“Because we have got a good sound system this year, people will be made aware that at 4.10pm the militia will do their demon-stration and fire their muskets over the Christmas tree. That gives people who wish to move out of the Square time to leave.”

From 3.30pm members of the Minster Choir and musicians from Queen Elizabeth’s School will lead carol singing around the tree.

Collections will also be taken from the public for the mayor’s charities, Friends of Victoria Hospital in Wimborne and the Priest’s House Museum.

Chris Brown said: “The Wimborne Militia are delighted that this tradition can be re-established and a sensible solution has been found to ensure evil spirits lurk no longer in this town.

“It is worth pondering perhaps that without the scouring of the tree in 2008 we saw the fire wreak havoc in the town and dent the towns trade.

“But with the food festival going great guns and Waitrose on the way this scouring augers well for Christmas and the new year.”