The shopping streets were packed as families followed a parade led by West Norfolk Mayor Kathy Mellish, choir groups and Santa and his sleigh pulled by real reindeers, on a stop-start journey through the town, before the town's white and electric-blue light displays and above-street fairy light hammocks were switched on.

At each stop the carol singers stretched their vocal chords, ringing out Christmas cheer, while a clutch of street entertainers – a stilt walker, clowns and a magician, in jester-type outfits, slung with fairy-lights, added to the crowd's smiles.

READ ALSO: Ice skating a big hit in Lynn

Visitor Mrs Linda Rawlings, of St Augustines Way, South Wootton, was enjoying the night with daughter Eloise (5) and mum Mrs Pam Tuck.

She said: "It's the best year they've had so far. They've put a real effort into it this year and it shows."

Around the town a snow machine gave everyone a festive dusting and in Tuesday Market Place blues band Blue Tubes echoed some tunes out from a trailer. Beneath them the skating rink was in full throttle and there were market stalls selling sweets and Christmas treats.

Also among the attractions was an elf village created by staff and volunteers at Lynn's Arts Centre. The four or five wendy houses had some lovely little touches with one strewn inside with tiny toys and wrapped parcels and another with a tired elf's pointy shoes discarded at the end of a miniature bed. All were also individually lit by retired electric company worker Art Centre volunteer Graham Uttin (68), of Peppers Green, Gaywood.

Santa's grotto was unveiled in the Vancouver Quarter and proved extremely popular with queues going back to Costa Coffee from its position half way along Broad Street.

Cllr Mellish said: "The town was buzzing, which was lovely.

"This was far superior to what we have done in the past but we are really promoting Lynn as a place to be now and I think it is paying off. I think it got Christmas off to a really good start."

The festive spirit also reached out across the district this weekend with Burnham Market and Fakenham among those who switched their lights on on Saturday and Downham and Hunstanton's going on on Sunday.

THERE ARE MORE PICTURES FROM THE NIGHT IN TODAY'S LYNN NEWS.

SEE FRIDAY'S LYNN NEWS FOR PICTURES FROM HUNSTANTON AND DOWNHAM.