A CAST of colourful characters brought the festive spirit to Salisbury, lighting up the city on the first evening of late-night shopping.

The Market Square was noisy and bustling with people sporting Santa hats and reindeer antlers, eagerly awaiting the countdown to the Christmas lights switch-on.

In the meantime, entertainment was provided by the Salisbury Community Choir, who sang a selection of traditional carols without the benefit of microphones - unfortunately only audible to the lucky few at the front of the crowd.

Such was the crush in the square that the arrival of the procession from the carol service at the cathedral was ethereal, rather than spectacular.

A small fleet of paper lanterns shaped like ships and stars appeared as if from nowhere and bobbed above the crowd. In the procession were city dignitaries and the cast of Salisbury Playhouse's production of Mother Goose.

The countdown to the illumination, orchestrated by the goose that laid the golden egg, raised the volume and excitement to fever pitch.

The button was pressed by Mother Goose, in company with four-year-old Michael John Dooley, of Bishopdown, who suffers from Alpes disease and was given only six months to live just before his first birthday.