IT took two countdowns to switch on the Christmas lights in Wilton on Monday.

Nothing happened at the end of the first count, so the crowd that had packed into the Market Square was asked to count again - and this time a huge cheer went up as the lights came on in all their glory.

Mayor of Wilton Town Cllr Bob Blandford performed the official switch-on of the illuminations - lighting up the town's huge growing Christmas tree, which is believed to be one of the tallest of its kind in the country and stands at the edge of old St Mary's churchyard.