Hundreds of people gathered in Bury St Edmunds tonight to see the town switch on its Christmas lights and enjoy a variety of festive entertainment.

The annual event began at 3pm with a festive feast of street entertainment, fundraising stalls, and food and drink for all the family.

Children also had the opportunity to see penguins and a baby reindeer in the build-up to the main event at 7pm, with one of the town’s hardest working volunteers flicking the switch.

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Lou Hovell has given nearly 9,000 hours of her time to the British Heart Foundation in Bury St Edmunds and has been recognised with its Anglia Region Volunteer of the Year award.

The event is organised by by the Business Improvement District (BID) organisation Our Bury St Edmunds.

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Hayley Dufferty, who visited with friends and her children, said: “It was very nice, the kids really liked the penguins.

“It’s a good event and there was lots of nice food, I’m starting to feel a lot more Christmassy now.”

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Jose Boss, from Southgate Pre-School, who were fundraising at the event, said: “We have had a fabulous time.

“It is always a great event with a great atmosphere.”

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. The Hardwick Primary School choir entertain Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. The Hardwick Primary School choir entertain Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Natasha Brame, from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), was also running a fundraising stall for the charity.

She said: “It’s been fantastic, we are really grateful to Our Bury St Edmunds and the people of Bury St Edmunds for their generous support.”

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

A host of festive activities were also available at the Arc shopping centre in Charter Square to help people get into the Christmas spirit.

There was an opportunity for children to design their own letter to Santa to take home – inside a giant inflatable Christmas pudding – as well as the chance to meet some cheeky elves.

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

The activities were all free with a donation to te shopping centre’s charity of the year – My WiSH Charity.

Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “The BID works really hard to make sure the town has a stunning selection of Christmas lights.

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Volunteer of the Year Louise Hovell switches on the lights Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Volunteer of the Year Louise Hovell switches on the lights Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

“A couple of weeks later we’ll also be unveiling our vintage dodgems Christmas attraction and in December, Father Christmas is bringing his log-cabin grotto to Charter Square.”

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. The cast of the Theatre Royal pantomime Dick Whittington entertain Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. The cast of the Theatre Royal pantomime Dick Whittington entertain Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: A packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. The Westgate Primary School community choir signing carols Picture: ANDY ABBOTTA packed Cornhill and Buttermarket in Bury St Edmunds for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on. The Westgate Primary School community choir signing carols Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)