THOUSANDS of people gathered in Devizes Market Place on Friday evening as Christmas officially began in the market town.

Hundreds of lanterns of all shapes and sizes were paraded through the streets and returned as a cavalcade for Father Christmas riding on a traction engine.

As Christmas music filled the air along with a fine drizzle the excitement was palpable as young and old prepared for Santa to appear on a balcony of The Bear hotel for the lights switch-on.

Some in the crowd felt Santa might have been need of a quick sherry after his steam engine ride as there was a bit of delay from when he entered the pub to him appearing outside.

But cheers rang out as he stood at a lectern and the crowd joined in the count down. There were ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ as the giant Christmas tree in the Market Place lit up and thousands of other lights decorating the town went on.

Fireworks then lit up the sky and to add an extra touch of magic artificial snow was pumped out onto the heads of those closest to The Bear.

People of all ages had created lanterns to carry in the procession. Schools, families, charities and theatrical groups all carried lanterns. Many were white but others this year were coloured and there was whole menagerie of animals from giant horses to tiny penguins.

Devizes newest charity Julia’s House had a lantern in the shape of its teddy logo.

Alison Radevsky, chairman of the Devizes friends group of Julia’s House, said: “Devizes Town Band is supporting Julia’s House and Kelvin and Pam Nash from the band played a fantastic part in making the lantern.”

“I arrived at the Crown Centre on the first Sunday morning workshop to find that Kelvin had done a scale drawing of the logo to turn into the lantern and had developed a superbly engineered design for how it would all be constructed.

“He and Pam then worked for hours with us on making it happen – we couldn’t have done it without them. We’re hugely grateful.”

Members of the Umbrella Project led the lantern parade had obviously been warned about the weather.and teenagers joined Circomedia Circus School in Bristol to dance their way around the town with brightly lit brollies. Devizes Mayor Roger Giraud-Saunders carried his own lantern and then hitched a ride on Santa’s traction engine back to The Bear.

Deputy Mayor Jane Burton was rather less conspicuous as she joined the throng outside the hotel.

The event was deemed an outstanding success by organisers and those who took to Facebook and Twitter to say the parade captured the community spirit of Devizes.

Jo Beal of Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts said: "The Lantern Parade is made possible by the enormous effort that the local community puts in to making the lanterns. This year over 700 lanterns were made by local schools, groups, families and individuals.

"Lantern making is an extremely accessible and creativity activity that anyone can get involved in, and it leads to taking part in a large scale community celebration of lights and Christmas. This year DOCA was thrilled to work with Lavington School on the creation of the Shoal of Fish lantern installation which hung from the Corn Exchange.

"Students worked with artist Karolyn Pike on the theme of ‘Our Green Planet’ to create the stunning artwork. Audiences were treated to another new outdoor arts element this year – the Umbrella Project - which involved young people, including those from Devizes School, opening the parade and performing with a unique and beautiful set of LED lit Umbrellas, supplied and choreographed by Cirque Bijou."