Thousands of people turned out to watch the lantern parade and Christmas lights switch-on in Devizes.

The Christmas Festival featured fire jugglers, carol singing by local schoolchildren and singers plus dozens of market stalls to keep people entertained until the parade.

Hundreds of Lanterns of all shapes and sizes - including a blue Tardis - were on display, but the giant elephant lantern made by local artists was the stand-out lantern wowing the appreciative crowd.

Taking part in her fourth lantern parade was Esme Wall, nine, a pupil at Wansdyke School, Devizes, who made a green Christmas tree lantern She said: "I like the lantern parade, it means it's the start of Christmas and I like the fact that everyone's having fun."

The parade went to The Wharf to pick up Father Christmas from his grotto and brought him to the Market Place where he climbed on to the balcony of the Bear Hotel and swiched on the lights just after 7pm followed by a fireworks display.