Christmas came early in Walton as families packed out the town centre for the annual festival of light to mark the countdown to the festive period.

Organised by the Walton Business Group and the Heart shopping centre, residents and those from further afield enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment, stalls, promotions and offers on Saturday, November 30.

The high street was packed with more stalls than previous years, with Christmas gift ideas, decorations and festive treats and essentials.

Young enterprise groups from local schools were also allocated stalls to sell their products.

Radio Jackie, Walton Voices, Walton Baptist Church and Stagecoach Walton were all out in force to entertain the crowds and Father Christmas was visited by children in his grotto in toy store Play Inside Out.

Bringing the festivities to a close, the annual lantern procession lit up the town, with hundreds of children taking part with lanterns big and small.

The mayor of Elmbridge, Councillor Mike Bennison, Father Christmas and Hollyoaks actress Gemma Bissix teamed up to turn on the towns Christmas lights and after flicking the switch, four large baubles popped to sprinkle the crowds with fake snow.

This year’s festival of light helped to raise funds for charities including Cancer Research, Home-Start, RNLI and the Rotary Club.

 

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