THE streets of Beaconsfield were crammed with revellers tonight as the annual Festival of Lights brought Christmas cheer to the town.

At 7pm the town crier, Dick Smith, began the usual procession at Hughes Garage in Station Road. Taking part were children from schools in the area, as well as several other Beaconsfield organisations.

Children taking part in the procession, which this year had a theme of ‘space’, held stars, rockets, and models of comets and planets high above their heads.

Entertainers joined in, including a stilt walker, a one-man-band, jugglers, and Scottish pipers.

Crowds of people lined Station Road them march to the Town Hall Council Green.

There, hundreds gathered around the area’s festive lights to join in with a selection of Christmas carols, accompanied by the Egham Brass Band.

Town mayor, Cllr Henry Wilson, said: “It’s a great evening for the town and I’m very proud so many people came out to support this event.

“I think it’s been a bigger procession than ever, and everyone has enjoyed it. I think all the shopkeepers need to be thanked for keeping open so that people can pop in.

“I hope the occasion goes on year after year.”

Outside Costa Coffee in Maxwell Road a range of choirs and bands delighted onlookers with festive favourites.

Visitors could also enjoy fairground games, and get food and refreshments from a range of stalls running down Station Road. Many shops stayed open to let people browse as they warmed up from the cold night air.

Santa also put in an appearance, along with a pair of reindeer.

Peter Cullimore, chairman of the Beaconsfield Festival of Lights Trust, said: “We think it went as well as ever, and about as many people came as usual.

“It’s a tremendous team effort and we have had the same team be working on it now for several years.”

The event was jointly organised by the Rotary Club of Beaconsfield and the Rotary Club of Jordans and District, with support from South Bucks District and Beaconsfield Town Councils. The event was sponsored by The Frost Partnership.

Much of the money raised from the evening was to go to Alfriston School’s ‘Project Splash!’ The school in Penn Road, Knotty Green, is for girls aged between 11 and 18, who have moderate learning difficulties and other disabilities. The project is to build a new swimming pool at the school, for pupils to learn from and enjoy.