TORENTIAL rain meant a Christmas Festival suffered a much lower turnout that usual.

But it failed to put off the 300 people who did gather to watch the parade from Mill Lane, Walton, to Millennium Square in the High Street.

A Santa’s grotto, choir, roast chestnuts and mulled wine were among a host of things on the go at Saturday’s event.

The festival was organised by the Walton Events Partnership, and also included the switch-on of the town’s Christmas tree lights.