Hundreds of people descended into Bradford on Avon for the Christmas lights switch-on and late night shopping.

Cliff Parisi, better known as playing Minty in the soap Eastenders and currently starring in Peter Pan at The Theatre Royal in Bath, told the crowd how beautiful Bradford on Avon was before starting the countdown to illuminate the town.

Joining him with the switch-n was 10-year-old Abbie McCracken-Dunn from Farleigh Wick, who won the Chamber of Commerce poster competition.

Mayor John Potter said: “We have got new LED light bulbs and we have been able to put them across the road this year so it is looking fantastic.

“Last year we had problems with the flooding and not being able to put the lights across the road. But this year it is all very harmonious.”

Children queued up to Santa’s Grotto outside the Tourist Information Centre, which will be open every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas, and received a gift and photo with him.

Barbara Oakley, of Fitzmaurice Place, said: “In previous years I have taken my grandchildren but this year mum is with me. It seems very popular this year. It is a lovely Christmas town. With the architecture and then the lights, it is just beautiful.”

After the switch-on the crowds flocked across Town Bridge to Lamb Yard where there was a carousel, swings and barbecue.

All the shops stayed open until 8pm, showcasing their Christmas stock and handing out mulled wine and cider.

Jackie Allan of Piha in Lamb Yard said: “There has been a fantastic amount of people. It has been fabulous to get local people into the shops and bump into people they haven’t seen for ages.

"My concern was that because the lights switch- on has changed from a Tuesday to a Friday that people might have had other plans but that has not been the case.”