THE lights have gone on and the Christmas countdown begun in Highworth and Wootton Bassett.
Both coincided with the day when children begin opening the doors of their Advent calendars.
And in both towns the special moment was greeted by cheers from hundreds of spectators.
In Highworth, the honours were performed by Mayor Lynn Vardy, joined by local VIPs and radio presenter Sandy Martin.
Another special guest was Santa himself. In Wootton Bassett the town centre was thronged with people harking back to the spirit of A Christmas Carol with a Dickens evening.
With the streets closed off to traffic various stalls were set up and charity collectors rattled tins for Amnesty International.
A Carol Concert was provided by Wootton Bassett Light Operatic Society and there was also an open-air church service.
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