Christmas joy as Shropshire is lit up

The centres of Wellington and Whitchurch were turned into a riot of colour as people gathered for a host of Christmas activities before the annual switching-on of the festive lights.

In Whitchurch, more than 2,000 people flocked to the town centre on Saturday where Slyde, a Slade tribute band, performed a number of famous hits on an outdoor stage with people lining the streets to join in with the carnival atmosphere.

British actor Ian Bartholomew, who is perhaps best known for appearing in top BBC drama Spooks, helped turn on the Christmas lights after a big countdown and a children's lantern parade had earlier made its way from Green End through to High Street.

There were also musical performances from Whitchurch Youth Choir, Whitchurch Town Band and Whitchurch Community Choir as well as a variety of gift and food stalls including mulled wine and a hog roast.

Town mayor Councillor Peggy Mullock said the Christmas lights switch-on was improving each year. She said: "I was in town all day and it was really busy and the switch-on itself was absolutely super.

"The town was completely rocking later in the evening for the Slade tribute band and people were all the way down the high street.

"There must have been a good couple of thousand visitors there which really got everybody into the Christmas spirit."

She added: "We had our new Christmas lights last year and the event is really starting to grow now and we're trying to add a little bit more to it each year as it expands."

There was also late night shopping following the festivities which Councillor Mullock said would bring a welcome boost to town centre traders.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Oswestry on Saturday to watch the town's Christmas parade, organised by the Rotary Club.

More than 40 floats joined in with the procession, carrying Christmas cartoon characters, a workshop full of Santa's elves, Noah's ark, and Father Christmas and his reindeer.

Heading up the parade were fire engines from Oswestry fire station, followed by a brass band playing Christmas carols, and dozens of Brownies and Guides dressed as playing cards. Volunteers from the Rotary Club walked with the parade to collect donations from the crowds which will go to charity.

Families in Wellington enjoyed more than five hours of entertainment as the day kicked off on Saturday with '200% Sounds International' performing in Market Square from noon.

There was then a variety of Christmas bands playing throughout the day including Hadley Orpheus Male Voice Choir, Dothill Primary School Choir, Wrekin View School Choir and the Telford and Wrekin Singers.

A children's lantern parade left New Street making its way through the town to Market Square which culminated in hundreds of people gathering at 4.30pm for the lights switch-on as Santa's sleigh dropped by to entertain the youngsters.

Councillor Frank Burns, mayor of Wellington, said the weather had helped bring people out in their droves as he labelled it 'the best ever' switch-on event.

He said: "Everything went extremely smoothly on the day and in fact in terms of the weather and numbers I would say it was our best ever. It's difficult to say how many people were there but it was hundreds I would say.

"It's a great community event to say that Wellington is finally ready for Christmas and it will also help bring a boost to traders in the town centre from the increased footfall."

Meanwhile in Much Wenlock the annual Christmas fair was staged on Saturday from 10am until 5pm with a wide variety of independent stalls complementing the town centre shops.

Visitors to the market town were treated to festive entertainment, live music, a Santa's grotto for youngsters, donkey rides, a lantern procession, and a host of Christmas carols.