Falklands war veteran Simon Weston was on hand to show the lighter side of the High Street as Royal Wootton Bassett enjoyed its biggest Christmas lights crowd this week.

The three winners of the annual card colouring competition, Ruby Beard, eight, Phoebe Maddison, seven and Charlie Barton-Embling, seven, helped Mr Weston switch on the lights on two 40ft Christmas trees to officially open the town’s Christmas festivities.

The High Street was packed with more than 10,000 revellers, who had come to enjoy the many stalls, shops and shows on offer in Borough Fields, including Santa and his grotto.

Entertainment included a fire eater, a silhouette cutter and face painting, while there was also more traditional carol singing and music from the Wootton Bassett Brass Band.

Mr Weston said: “It was an honour for me to do it and it had a great deal of poignancy – I never made it to any of the repatriations and it was my way of saying thank you.”

Mayor Paul Heaphy said: “I thought it was fantastic – we must have had three times as many people as last year. It’s possibly our biggest and to have Simon come along was great to see.”

Entertainment included a fire eater, a silhouette cutter, a jungle workshop and face painting, while there was also more traditional carol singing and music from the Wootton Bassett Brass Band.

“It was great fun,” said Councillor Jenny Stratton, who gave a reading at the carol service on behalf of the United Reform Church, where she is an elder.

“There was a great buzz; it was just so cheerful. Everybody enjoyed themselves and everyone got so much out of it.”

The Rev Thomas Woodhouse, from St Bartholomew’s Church, praised the community atmosphere. “I don’t think I have seen so many people before,” he said.

“Seeing so many families out and about is always encouraging.