Telford town centre lights up for Christmas sparkle
[gallery] Crowds flocked to Telford Shopping Centre to start the festive season in style by watching the switching on of the town's Christmas lights.
CBeebies presenter Alex Winters was joined by children's TV favourites Mike the Knight and Evie to welcome the festive season last night.
Stars from Beauty and the Beast, this year's pantomime at Oakengates Theatre, were also there including top comic Phil Butler.
Members of Telford Tigers Ice Hockey Team also attended to kick start the year's festive celebrations.
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Chris Jones, centre director at Telford Shopping Centre, said he was delighted the lights display – new to the centre this year – had gone down so well with the crowds.
He said: "This year's Christmas activities got off to a tremendous start. We were thrilled to see so many people turn out to see the switch-on and join in the celebrations.
"While the switch-on is a high point in the Christmas calendar, it is just the start of the celebrations and there's a lot more going on in the centre in the run up to the big day, including the Christmas Charity Wrap which allows shoppers to have their presents wrapped whilst raising money for local charities.
"We look forward to sharing this festive time with our shoppers, and hope they enjoy our full programme of seasonal events and family friendly activities."
The evening also saw the opening of the Beauty and the Beast-themed grotto which is located in Sherwood Square and is now open every day until Christmas Eve.
Shoppers gave a big thumbs up to the new Christmas lights display. Bryony Mitchell, 34, from Sutton Hill, said: "We like to bring the kids along, they love Mike the Knight and it was brilliant to see their faces when the lights came on."
Mike Maskell, 27, from Oakengates, said: "The lights are brilliant. It really feels like the start of Christmas now."
