Lights twinkled and crowds cheered as Christmas lights were switched on.

Christmas festivities in Enfield Town kicked off yesterday with a sparkling start as Santa Claus paraded through the town and turned on the light display in the countdown to Christmas.

Santa and his team led a host of festive characters through the Palace Gardens shopping centres yesterday afternoon, including roller skating baubles, Christmas puddings, stilt walking bells and ice queens.

Annabelle Payne, of Edmonton, came to see the event with her friends and said: "I absolutely love Christmas so it's great that they have this event so you can see Christmas has officially come to Enfield."

After winning a social media campaign, mum Eva Avelte and son Martin joined Father Christmas and his festive brass band to flick the switch.

Hundreds of people visited the centre and lined the pavements to see the parade, with a roar of cheers echoing through the streets as the lights went on.

Paul Duke, Palace Gardens centre manager, said: “Today was the day that Christmas came to our community in Enfield.

“All month Palace Gardens has been hitting local and social media to let Enfield know of a terrific community event to get the Christmas season off to a fizz and a bang.

“What a day we've had, what a celebration - what a Christmas in Enfield.”