It's one of most iconic trucks in world...

And as the Coca Cola Christmas truck rolled impressively into Carlisle yesterday, hundreds of people from across the county flocked to Kingstown to see it - and be photographed with it.

The weather was wet and cold, but that did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of fans.

Gleaming red and adorned with cheerful bright Christmas lights, the classy truck is widely regarded as the first tangible signal that the festive season is upon us.

Whatever people may think of it, and of the popular fizzy drink it promotes so successfully, the reaction of those waiting for the Christmas truck proved it has star quality.

There was real excitement among the waiting crowd.

Gill Salkeld, 36, from Stanwix, was there with her daughter Isla, four.

“Isla was only a baby when it was last in the city centre and when I showed it to her on the internet she said she wanted to go,” said Gill.

“When you see the Coca Cola advert on the television you know it's time to get your tree out.

"You know it's Christmas."

Zara Bennett, waiting to see the truck with her daughters Brooke, seven, and five-year-old Danielle, travelled by bus from her home elsewhere in Carlisle to see the truck.

She said: “It just makes Christmas more magical.”

Louise McKey, 35, from Carlisle, was there with two-year-old Olivia, and Theo, four. “I saw the advert on the television for the first time this morning,” she said.

Her friend Samantha Hankin, also 35, from Belle Vue, Carlisle, was waiting next to the truck with daughters Lois, four, and three-year-old Fern.

“I'm here for the girls,” she said. “They love the lights on the truck.

“With it being here we know that it's the start of Christmas.”

Rickie Scholey, 34, travelled over to Carlisle from Maryport to see the legendary red truck with his three-year-old son Lewis, who beamed as he stared up at the huge truck.

“It's great,” declared Rickie.

“As soon as you see the advert, you know it's Christmas. I thought it would be good to bring the little one. It's the first time he's seen it.”

The truck is currently touring the UK.

It is now 21 years since the first Coca Cola advert aired on television. The wagon has been touring the UK for about six years, first coming to Carlisle three years ago, followed by two consecutive years in Penrith.