HIGHWORTH’S Market Square was packed full of hundreds of people on Friday night all eagerly awaiting the switching-on of the town’s Christmas lights.

Families enjoyed all the fun of the fair with test-your-strength machines, carnival games and teacup rides before the local scouts and girl guides groups paraded down the street with lanterns and Mayor of Highworth Nick Gardiner pushed the button to light up the street and the enormous Christmas tree in the square.

Santa travelled down the High Street in his sleigh to greet youngsters and give them gifts while performers from the local amateur dramatics society gave a brief preview of their pantomime.

Choirs from Southfields junior, Westrop primary and Eastrop infant's  schools then sang carols before Year 10 band Midnight Activists entertained the crowds.

Hog roasts from Notorious P.I.G. kept revellers of all ages warm and full of food on a chilly November night.

Meanwhile, 16 craft stalls were set up in St Michael’s Church with lots of great gifts on sale from independent businesses and local charities like the Nexus project collecting donations.

Pete and Denise Wright have lived in Highworth for 40 years and always come along to see the big switch-on.

Denise said: “This always gets a good turnout, it’s such a lovely and beautiful night, it’s amazing.”

Pete said: “We don’t have children but we come here to enjoy the atmosphere.

“It’s the first year that they’ve closed the street for this and I think it’s the first time we’ve had a funfair too.”

Coun Gardiner said: “It was very busy tonight, I don’t think we could have fit any more people in the square.

“The children really enjoyed themselves, the church was heaving, and I noticed that people arrived a lot earlier than usual and stayed out later, which is great.

“My wife Sarah went to all the boy scouts, guides and brownies to get them involved because it’s great to have as much of the community involved as possible.

“I also want to say a big thank-you to T S Tech for providing the lights, to Faringdon Electrical, and to the Co-op for giving us 300 mince pies which were gone in seconds.”