A RECORD turnout of 6,000 residents and visitors descended on Frodsham town centre to enjoy last week’s Christmas Festival and lights switch-on.

The fun started early Friday afternoon with a festive food and craft market in the town centre, and, by 4pm, Main Street was bustling with street entertainers, fairground rides and local bands. School choirs and dance groups performed on stage, with local charities and community groups promoting their activities.

By 6.30pm, when the town council’s ever-popular Christmas tree and street lights were switched on by Mayor Andrew Dawson and MP Graham Evans, followed by a fireworks display, Main Street was packed out with revellers, including hundreds of children eager to see the main attraction – Santa pulled by reindeer on his sleigh in the colourful Christmas parade.

The parade travelled from Castle Park along Main Street and back, led by the Karamba Samba Band, and included an illuminated open-topped vintage bus, cheerleaders, entertainers and scores of schoolchildren with handmade lanterns.

The annual event has attracted increasingly bigger crowds since it was launched in 2002, and is now one of the largest community Christmas gatherings in the north west.

Cllr Dawson said: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people in Frodsham at one time – let alone all gathering to have fun!

“It gives me great pleasure to pass on Frodsham’s thanks to everyone who made the event so successful.

“But success can bring its own problems and I’m painfully aware that there were crowd issues, particularly for young children, and congestion and car-parking was something of a problem.

“I’m asking for a review so we can talk about what can be done to improve things.”

“But, wow! It was a fantastic Christmas celebration and general feedback received so far, bar one, has been very favourable, with revellers, organisers and the police all reporting a good evening.”

Festive attractions continued on Saturday with Christmas food and craft markets at Castle Park and Lady Heyes Craft and Antique Centre.

More than 2,000 people also visited the Enchanted Park event, organised by Cheshire West and Cheshire Council at Castle Park. The historic house and other park features were bathed in a Christmas lights display, and families enjoyed a night time stroll through the illuminated woodland.

Tina Symes, chair of Love Frodsham, a group of local independent traders and businesses who help organise the festival, said it was “a roaring success.”

“It gets bigger and better every year, an event offering wholesome family fun for all ages, and a terrific showcase for local businesses and the pride and passion they and residents have for Frodsham.”