Cromer's crab-pot Christmas tree added a shellfish twist to the festive fun at Cromer's light fantastic.

The controversial creation, which has divided opinion in the town, was lit up alongside the traditional tree as the shopping streets were bathed in colour.

Before the big switch-on, visitors enjoyed the street entertainers and tucked into food and drink from a variety of Christmas stalls on Church Street and High Street.

Father Christmas arrived in style on the back of the Polar Express, a spectacular winning float from this year's Cromer Carnival.

And in the Parish Hall there were Christmas stalls, plus youngsters from the Parish Church serving cakes and drinks at Rudolf's Cafe.

With the rain clearing in time for the evening's events, there was a healthy crowd on the streets, with plenty joining in as the Rev Canon David Court led people in signing a clutch of carols, accompanied by the Salvation Army Band.

After the carols, it was over to Cromer Academy student Natasha Smith, who was one of the Olympic torchbearers, and the young winners of the Christmas poster competition, to press the button and bathe the town in colourful light.

Tony Shipp, chairman of Cromer Voluntary Entertainments Organisation, who conducted the proceedings, said: 'I'm sure you would like me to say a big thankyou to the team who spent so many weeks putting up the Christmas lights.

'We also have the crab-pot tree, so a big thankyou to John Davies and our local fishermen who gathered 150 pots to make it.

'We've got lots to look forward to, to brighten up our Cromer Christmas this year.'