Witney sparkled last night as crowds gathered to see their town bathed in glowing lights for the festive season.

Some 2,000 onlookers gathered in the centre of town to watch Finley Halcrow, 11, turn on the lights in his capacity as the town council's Young Citizen of the Year after designing a play park for Cogges in 2015.

He was joined onstage by Witney Town Mayor Chris Holliday and new MP Robert Courts.

Young stars-in-the-making from West Oxfordshire Academy Of Performing Arts entertained crowds along with a cohort of young ballet dancers.

The event was organised by Witney Rotary Club along with Witney Round Table and the Lions and ssupported by the town council.

Deputy mayor Chris Woodward said a group of residents from nearby Madley Park House Care Home, including several in their 100s, had braved the cold weather to watch the switch-on - some for the first time in years.

He said: "We heavily invested to make sure it was a better and brighter display than last year because the general feedback was that it needed to be a little more showy.

"They looked fantastic. They should all be on tonight, looking absolutely fabulous. The Buttercross looks delightful."