Magic of Christmas

FULL of Christmas cheer. Joshua Barnes (5) enjoys the Christmas lights

HUNDREDS of locals descended on Shaw centre for their share of Christmas magic.

Market Street was packed with people on Friday night for the spectacular lighting up of the district centre.

Parents were aglow with community cheer as they tucked into mince pies and sipped spicy mulled wine. But it was the children who had the most fun, getting the chance to meet Santa before bopping to the tunes played by Revolution radio.

Yet some families were left in the dark. Around 100 had gathered at Wrens Nest to watch a switch-on — only for it to be scrapped at the last minute. The electrician needed to light up the Christmas tree failed to show up.

But that didn’t deter them from getting their festive fill as they staged a lantern parade to the Market Street celebrations to the sound of a marching Delph Youth Brass Band, and made it in time for countdown.

Note-perfect performances came from the St Joseph’s School choir while local hero Chaddy the Owl pushed the plunger to signal the start of Christmas.