Newbury's Christmas lights switched on with a whiz and a bang

A crowd of around 2,500 people gathered for the countdown, mostly families and childen, before the Mayor of Newbury, Arthur Johnson, accompanied by Father Christmas and six-year-olds, Danielle Cox and her cousin, Ellie May Green, pressed the plunger to light up the Market Place, as Newbury Town Hall clock struck 6pm.
Danielle's mother, Lisa Cox, said her daughter suffered from juvenile arthritis, but despite this, led life to the full and had been jumping up and down with excitement prior to the switch-on.
The switch-on was immediately followed by a firework display, which lit up the sky above Kennet Shopping.
Prior to the switch-on, a procession from the Methodist Church and along Northbrook Street was led by stiltwalkers glowing in white and Father Christmas in his sleigh.
Live entertainment was provided by St Nicholas Church Choir, along with Berkshire-based singer, Kate Izzard and Christmas carols by Watership Brass (The Newbury Town Band).
"It took a huge amount of organising - we started it in January," said Caroline Edmunds, one of the organisers, Newbury Town Council.