Christmas kicks off in fine style!

Several thousand people braved the rain and bitter cold on Friday 21 November to see the Christmas lights switched on in Leys Square.

As the pictures show, there was fun for all the family, and attractions included Santa and his huskies, X Factor contestant Annastasia Baker, cast members from the SPADS pantomime, Aladdin, and local band, Pink Champagne. Hertbeat FM provided live coverage of the switch-on and the build up to it. Fairground rides in Leys Avenue added to the party atmosphere.

Typical of the positive feedback from visitors to this growing annual event was the e-mail received the next day from a Station Road resident: “Just a quick note to say how much our family enjoyed the switching on of the Christmas lights. A lot of effort must have gone into it and it was greatly appreciated.”

Town centre manager Martin Fletcher said, “This was the first time that an event on this scale had been attempted, and we will be taking on board comments from traders when we plan next year’s switch-on. There were lots of smiling faces in the audience that evening and we are delighted to have brought so much pleasure to the town’s customers.”