Reindeer, penguins, donkeys, a fun fair, a host of entertainers and a sparkling array of lights helped to brighten up the centre of Bury St Edmunds, tonight.

Reindeer, penguins, donkeys, a fun fair, a host of entertainers and a sparkling array of lights helped to brighten up the centre of Bury St Edmunds, tonight.

Thousands of people flocked to the town to see the festival decorations switched on.

But there was so much more for those visiting the Buttermarket, Cornill and Arc Shopping Centre areas to see and do.

A charity market opened at 2pm and the day, organised by ourburystedmunds the town centre business improvement group, run on through from mid afternoon and into the evening with the lights switched on at 7pm.

There were peformances on stage near Moyses Hall from a variety of schoolchildren and students plus some of the cast of the panto Aladdin, which begins its run at the Theatre Royal, on Friday, November 29. and goes through to Sunday, January 12.

Then it was the turn of Father Christmas and Andrew Speed, chairman of ourburystedmunds, to throw the switch and light up the town to cheers from the crowd.

X Factor singer Tasha Pyne, who got through the first four rounds of the competition, was due to entertain the crowds but she was unable to attend as she was suffering from a sore throat.

However, the retro band Swervy World headlined the latter part of the evening.

Business was also brisk at the array of stalls that lined the streets with while in Charter Square many brave souls were daring themselves on the Rodeo Reindeer with the chance of winning a £50 voucher for their favourite store if they managed to stay on the bucking animal as it twisted and turned.

And as the crowds drifted away for the night the lights, estimated to have cost over £10,000, sparkled and twinkled as they lit up the town.