THOUSANDS of people packed into Northwich on Saturday for an unprecedented day of festivities to launch the start of the Christmas season.

The Christmas Extravaganza saw the town centre filled with market stalls, food, entertainment, games,Disney characters, stilt walkers and fire eaters before the Christmas tree lights were switched on and an evening firework finale lit up the sky behind Northwich Library.

Chris Shaw, Northwich Town Council clerk, said: "There was no particular highlight for me, it was the whole day – it was the buzz and the atmosphere in town.

"There were just people everywhere and everyone was really enthusiastic.

"You put these things on and hope they will be successful but I would say this is the best thing we've done."

The Christmas Extravaganza was organised by a partnership of Northwich Town Council, Northwich Business Improvement District (BID), Northwich Independent Retailers Association (NIRA) and Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Shoppers and visitors enjoyed more than 60 stalls in Witton Street, free tractor and trailer rides, a huge snow globe for festive photo opportunities, a rodeo reindeer, balloon artist, origami workshop and fairground rides.

Entertainment included choirs and performers from Mid Cheshire College, Sir John Deane's College, the Girl Guides, The Joshua Tree, Roberts Bakery Band, Amplify Youth Music Project, Cockney Carol and Ageless Ukes.

More than 200 children took part in a lantern parade which started at Waitrose and made its way to Northwich Library where the lights were switched on by eight-year-old Megan Aspinall, from Northwich, winner of the event's Christmas colouring competition, alongside Elsa from Frozen and town mayor Clr Alison Gerrard.

Children also visited Santa's Grotto, set up with the help of the Rotary Club of Northwich Vale Royal.

Kanya and Waitrose provided free refreshments for children taking part in the parade and their parents.

Jane Hough, from Northwich BID, said: "The Northwich BID is delighted with the success of the Northwich Christmas Extravaganza – the town came alive on Saturday with people coming from far and wide to enjoy the festive activity.

"The vision for the Northwich BID is to create a vibrant town centre and this was certainly achieved on Saturday."