Crowds gather for Old Town's big switch on (From Swindon Advertiser)

Crowds gather for Old Town's big switch on

9:30am Friday 27th November 2009

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HUNDREDS descended on Old Town last night as Swindon Town legend Don Rogers flipped the switch and turned on the Christmas lights.

The whole of Wood Street was packed with families who had flocked from all over Swindon to begin their Christmas countdown.

Football star Don was joined by Heart’s Howard Taylor, town crier Fred Ferris and current Swindon Robins captain Leigh Adams who hit the giant tinsel-draped red button and lit up the streets around them.

Mum-of-three Sharon Walker had travelled from Upper Stratton for the festive switch on.

She said: “Its lovely and everyone was walking around with big smiles on their faces.

“Christmas might be a month away but it felt like it was tomorrow – it was wonderful.

“My youngest, Kian, had not seen anything like it and was giggling at all the clowns and funny lights.

“Its great to see the entire community coming out to support this.

“This Christmas is going to be the best ever.”

Town mayor David Wren was also on hand to oversee the lights twinkle into life.

He said: “This is my first switch on and it is very exciting – I am very happy to be here.”

Before the main switch on at 7pm, Wood Street was awash with dancers, martial arts professionals, fire jugglers and Santa even managed to put in an appearance.

Steven Piper, who runs an IT company on Wood Street, said: “I have never seen the street so busy.

“I looked out of my window and it was suddenly full to the brim.

“It’s so nice to see people still coming out to things like this – you hear that the Swindon community is dwindling but this just goes to show that nothing could be further from the truth.

“I hope everyone had a wonderful time and it certainly looked that way.

“I have heard some hail it as the best switch on they had ever come to.”

Dotted along the pavements were street sellers and people selling hot food and drinks – much to the delight of the frost-nipped visitors.

Tonight impressionist Rory Bremner will be the star attraction at switching on the new Christmas lights in Highworth.

The event in Highworth will start tonight at 7pm on the High Street.

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