Magical lanterns lit up the dark skies as thousands of people gathered on Devizes town centre for the Christmas light switch on tonight.

Scores of people who had created their own lanterns gathered in St John's Street at 6pm.

They were led on a tour of the town by some startling giant lanterns in shape of animals.

Then people gathered in the Market Place for the big switch on.

Earlier in the day at The Wharf there had been carol singing by school children and youngsters had visited Santa in his grotto.