Thousands of people joined the countdown to Christmas in Colchester.
Winter wonderland - crowds in Colchester High Street to see the big turn-on last night. (46365-6)
Crowds cheered as Santa and mayor Terry Sutton switched on illuminations last night.
High Street was closed to traffic for a procession featuring the town watch, the Boadicea Samba Band and youngsters with lightsticks.
After a lack of lights prompted criticism last year, town bosses were determined to put on a sparkling display - and lined up a weekend of events to switch on shoppers.
Competition winner Kelly Hyams turned on lights at 11am on Saturday in Lion Walk, where SGR Colchester DJs and guest musicians performed at an all-day roadshow.
Later, the stars of Mercury Theatre panto, Beauty and the Beast, sparked up the first illuminations for several years in St Botolph's Street.
They then dashed to Culver Square, where crowds gasped as a solitary ear-splitting firework greeted the big switch-on.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, November 21, 2005
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