Heartbeat star Jason Durr joined the crowds at Malmesbury's late night shopping event to give mayor Paul Smith a hand with the lights switch on.

It was one of several festive evenings held in Wiltshire including Corsham and Royal Wootton Bassett on Friday, and Melksham and Westbury.

In Corsham, town council chairman Steve Abbott and Zeon, aged ten, the winner of the council’s Christmas card design competition, switched on the lights.

Tracey Ann Wilpole, from the council. said: “Thank you to everyone who came along to the Christmas Lights Switch On last Friday evening and made it such a success.”

In Royal Wootton Bassett and in Melksham, the town’s mayors, Cllr Pat Farrow and Cllr Simon Crundell, respectively, switched on the lights.

In Westbury, mayor Cllr Sheilia Kimmins, and Orla Pearce, aged eight, the overall winner of the mayor’s Christmas card design competition, did the honours.

At each event, the switch-ons were accompanied by live music, entertainment, street food stalls and visits to Father Christmas in Santa’s Grottos.