Crowds brought plenty of festive cheer to a cold and wet Christmas lights switch-on event in Harleston last Friday.

People gathered in the Market Place to see special guest Ella Devereux, age seven, arrive with Father Christmas to turn on the lights. She was awarded the honour after winning a competition to design the front cover of the event programme.

There was also musical entertainment on stage by pupils from Harleston Primary School and Archbishop Sancroft High School, a Dalek roaming the streets, a funfair, and hot chestnuts, candy floss and other stalls along the Thoroughfare.

Many of the town's shops also opened, offering mince pies and drinks and an opportunity for some late-night Christmas shopping.