There may have been a wintry chill in the air, and rain falling at times throughout this afternoon, but the centre of Lowestoft was bathed in a festive glow as hundreds of people gathered for the annual switch-on of the town's Christmas lights.

Numerous fun-packed entertainment brought an early festive treat to the town today – and taking centre stage this year were stars of the east-coast's only full-scale professional pantomime – Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.

The lights were switched on by Snow White (Georgia Phillips) and Dame Dolly Dumpling (Joe Standerline), with the dwarfs looking on alongside boy band The Scheme, Father Christmas and Beach radio presenters Paul Carter and Tim Lindon.

After The Scheme had wowed the crowds, the panto stars and Father Christmas threw some gifts to the excitable audience. And after a jolly 'ho! ho! ho!' from a very busy Santa Claus, hundreds of people joined in the traditional countdown from 10 to one – with 'big screams' echoing out around London Road North as the lights illuminated the town centre.

The event, which included a day-long programme of family entertainment – complete with fun fair rides, live performances from students at Ormiston Denes Academy earlier in the afternoon, and then five songs from boy band The Scheme – was organised by Lowestoft Vision.

Delighted with how the traditional Christmas lights switch-on had gone, and the great support received from the local community, Darren Newman, Lowestoft Vision BID Manager, said: 'We are really, really pleased with how the event has gone. We are really grateful to the community for coming out and supporting us.

'In terms of numbers turning out, we felt it was busier than last year, and what is nice is that people are staying in town with a massive queue to meet the stars at the Marina Theatre and people still shopping,' Mr Newman added.

'This is the start of a busy festive season, and we have lots going on for all the family in Lowestoft town centre this Christmas – with late night shopping until 8pm starting on Thursday.'

? More on the lights switch-on event in Lowestoft will appear in Monday's EDP and next Friday's Lowestoft Journal.