Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell said it was a “pleasure” to turn on the Christmas lights in his home town.

The professional middleweight boxer, who went to The John of Gaunt School and has just celebrated his 23rd birthday, grew up seeing the switch-on every year and this time got to make it happen himself.

Blackwell said: “I didn’t think I’d ever be turning on the lights, it was a pleasure.”

Hundreds poured through the streets of Trowbridge and gathered outside the town hall on Saturday evening for the event that signals the start of the countdown to Christmas.

They were warmed up with performances of Santa baby and Hallelujah by local singer Helen Marles, who performed at last year’s Trowbridge Carnival Country Fair.

Also making a special appearance on the town stage were Father Christmas and Hilperton Primary School’s choir, followed by the Wiltshire Marching Band which made its way down Market Street.

Finally after the big countdown, a wave of white light stretched out over Fore Street and down the front of the town hall while sparkly streamers fell towards the delighted crowd and artificial snow began to fall.

Six-year-old Liana, a pupil at Grove Primary school, said: “I like the snow.” Her mum Jo Sutton, 43, of Lavender Fields, said: “We’ve come every year since Liana was born. It’s nice for the kids.”

Michael Powell, 53, of Ashmead, said: “All the family’s here, my three granddaughters Carla, Kiera and Crystal, they love it.

“It’s really beautiful to see the small children sing.”

The big switch-on was followed by a carol service in St James’ Church.