THOUSANDS of people lined the streets for Chelmsford's Christmas light switch-on.
The crowds packed in front of Shire Hall on Sunday for a day of entertainment and music hosted by the BBC Essex team.
Visitors enjoyed real reindeer, street entertainment and a performance from former X Factor contestants Two Shoes before radio presenter Sadie Nine began the Christmas countdown to the switch-on.
The Sing Stars competition was won by Chelmer Valley High School's Abigail Newton, a 16-year-old from Broomfield.
In the crowd her proud grandmother, 74-year-old Iris Budd, watched on. She said: "I thought the competition was really great. I'm incredibly proud of her – all her family are here and she did really well. We were all blown away by her performance."
Katy Forkings, 12, a Moulsham High School student, also took part in the competition and sang the Christmas classic Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.
"I tried to forget all about how many people I was looking at and have a good time. It was really fun and I really enjoyed it," she told the Chronicle, which sponsored this year's event.
For the big switch-on, the Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Christopher Kingsley, was joined by Sid and Scrat from the Ice Age films, cast members of Riverside Ice and Leisure's Aladdin on Ice and the stars of Dick Whittington, currently on at Chelmsford's Civic Theatre, as well as Pudsey Bear.
The crowds screamed the countdown from ten and after the lights were turned on they enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display.
Drew Fisher, 37, a forklift driver from Galleywood, was with his two children, Tia, eight, and Kaya, five, who both go to school in Witham. He said: "The kids love it and they can't get enough of Christmas.
"I took them to the Moulsham Street lights and they loved that as well, even though they came home absolutely soaking wet.
"They loved the Coca-Cola van."
