It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

CROWDS flocked to Market Street, Shaw (pictured) and switch-ons around the borough

THE warm glow of Christmas shone brightly over Oldham as festive light switch-ons took place across the borough.

Thursday saw Royton’s switch-on, Friday saw events in Shaw, Chadderton and Greenfield, there were ceremonies in Lees and Delph on Saturday, and in Grotton and Dobcross yesterday.

CHADDERTON Prince and Princess Harry Wall and Heidi O’Keeffe turned on the lights outside Chadderton Town Hall on Middleton Road, with the the help of Father Christmas and mascot Chaddy the Griffin, following a Christmas market in the precinct.

Chadderton town crier David Smith heralded the event, and Mike Lawson, Chadderton standard bearer said: “It was wonderful, a great success, and we were very pleased with it.

SHAW had two bites of the cherry, with a switch-on organised by the parish council at Wren’s Nest, followed by a second event in Market Street.

The Salvation Army Band played at Wren’s Nest as more than 50 people sung carols. In Market Street, thousands gathered to watch a parade, entertanment and the switch-on, performed by Santa.

In GREENFIELD, sub-postmistress Mandy Gorey helped Ellie Matthews, a Year 6 pupil from St Mary’s School, read out her winning poem “The Christmas Tree” before they counted down together to the switch-on.

Coordinator Peter Lowe said: “We had a really good crowd of between 200 and 300 — it was a great night.”

ROYTON was one of the first places in Oldham to turn on its lights, on Thursday. Jenny Harrison - widow of the late Councillor Phil Harrison - was asked to switch on the lights in his memory, with the help of youngsters Grace Smythe and Roman Deblasio.

Councillor Steven Bashforth was at the event and said: “It was a really lovely evening, everyone had a cracking time.”