CHRISTMAS has truly arrived in Ipswich with the switching-on of the lights after a day of festive celebrations.

More than 5,000 people packed onto the town’s Cornhill to take part in the countdown before the brand new �100,000 illuminations and modern Christmas tree lit up the night sky while snowflakes drifted down.

Father Christmas took to the Town Hall balcony with Ipswich Star competition winner Kieran Seymour and Town 102 competition winner Freya Streatfield to press the plunger and declare the start of the Yuletide period.

Youngsters were enthralled by street performers including a stilt walking tin soldier, juggling Jack Frost, beautiful snow queen, a balloon modelling elf and stilt walking reindeer.

There were also performances from Samboomba, Funky Voices and Wattisham Military Wives Choir and a special treat from the cast of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

See tomorrow’s Ipswich Star for the full story and pictures.