Maryport has enjoyed its most successful Christmas lights switch-on event.

While crowds usually gather in the last hour of the town's Christmas festival, they were there from early on listening to the Flimby Saxhorn Silver Band entertaining with Christmas songs and carols.

The crowd shopped at a small but popular market, while children enjoyed fairground rides and stalls. Everyone was entertained by performances from Maryport Junior School choir, the cast of Spotlight on MAODS Elf and the Misfitz.

Disney characters Anna from Frozen and Belle, from Beauty and the Beast, had children flocking to them and added to the entertainment leading children in some of Disney’s classic songs.

The success of the day led to disappointment for some, however, as Maryport Town Council had given Santa 250 present packs for children.

Town clerk Paul Bramley said this was more than was needed last year but some children had to be turned away disappointed when Santa ran out of the gifts.

There was free entertainment in the Maryport town council chambers, which was so popular the queue stretched from the council chambers, down the stairs and to the entrance of the town hall.

Mayor Linda Radcliffe switched on the lights in front of a crowd that stretched down Senhouse Street, the main shopping street in town.

She was helped by Jack Gibson, a two-year-old who has cancer, and Lillie-Mae Jackson, six, who lost both legs and an arm to meningitis when just weeks old.

They were joined by representatives of Maryport’s primary and infant schools.

The council also provided tea, coffee, hot chocolate and juice for children while the Golden Lion Hotel gave free mince pies and mulled wine.

Coun Radcliffe thanked town clerks, Paul Bramley and Lisa Douglas, for the work they did to make the day such a success.