County getting switched on to Christmas

People from across Shropshire got into the Christmas spirit as festive lights were switched on across the county.

Thousands of people attended events in Shifnal, Oakengates, Madeley, Bridgnorth, Newtown, Market Drayton, Ellesmere and Much Wenlock last night.

Former Wolves and England goalkeeper Bert Williams was the star guest at the switch-on in Shifnal. In Much Wenlock former Wolves and England footballer John Richards switched on the lights. Councillor Val Gill, mayor of Bridgnorth, had the honour of switching on the town's lights.

In Oakengates the stars of panto Beauty and the Beast turned on the lights.

After a break of three years Madeley parish councillors were delighted to see the return of their ceremony, which featured Father Christmas leading a lantern parade.

Santa sprang up again as Ellesmere's Winter Wonderland celebrations began, dusted with a flurry of flakes from a snow machine.

In Market Drayton street entertainers and stallholders added to the festive spirit.

Thousands of people flocked to Newtown to enjoy the annual switch-on of the Christmas lights despite Arctic conditions.

Today other towns in Shropshire have a programme of seasonal festivities.

There will be carol singers in the Bullring in Whitchurch ahead of the switch-on at 5.30pm by town mayor Councillor Alan Chesters and Linda Bate, who chairs the chamber of commerce.

Councillor Graham Riley, mayor of Wellington, will switch the lights on at 4.30pm in the square as part of an event which will feature a children's lantern parade and carol singing.

Ludlow's Medieval Christmas Fair kicked off today, with organisers hopeful of topping last year's record 17,000 attendance.

By James Pugh