THE STREETS of Bradford on Avon were full of festive families turning up to watch Olympian Jazz Carlin hit the switch for this year’s Christmas lights.

Hundreds of people filled Westbury Gardens on Friday (November 25) in St Margaret’s Street for the switch on at 7pm to watch double silver medallist, and Bradford on Avon resident, Jazz Carlin illuminate the town. Accompanied by a samba band which lead the procession, the onlookers were treated to an entertaining start to the Christmas season in Bradford.

Alison Craddock, Mayor of Bradford on Avon, said: “The switch on went really well, it started as a fine evening, it was chilly but thankfully it didn’t rain and everything well really well. Jazz Carlin hit the switch for the lights and we also had Michelle Donelan visit us and give a speech so it was really nice to welcome her for the evening.

“I am really pleased to see all of the hard work pay off that has been put in to this year’s lights. The light working group, the Rotary club and the Bradford Lions all did a lot of work to make sure this year went smoothly and it all looked fantastic.”

As well as local choirs and the samba band, shop owners in the town stayed open late for the people milling around the town centre.

“There was a really good atmosphere, some of the shops stayed open late for people who were in the centre. I just think everything looked amazing. We did the switch on at 7pm this year, which is later than usual, but we wanted to do it so we weren’t interrupted by rush hour,” added Cllr Craddock.