FESTIVE spirit was alive in Middlewich at the weekend for the start of the Christmas celebrations.

Hundreds of people flocked into the town centre on Friday evening to see Middlewich Town Mayor Paul Edwards switch on the Christmas tree lights in the Bull Ring and watch the reindeer parade down Wheelock Street.

Town centre events manager Dave Thompson said he was thrilled with the turnout.

“It was brilliant – we were very, very pleased,” he said.

“I think we have hit a winning formula now because it went very well – there were hundreds of people in the Bull Ring.”

Some families were left disappointed when the reindeer parade started half an hour earlier that was originally publicised.

Mum Joanne Hurst was dismayed when she arrived with her two-year-old daughter Hannah to find the reindeer parade was over.

“I did hear a few people in the crowd say that they were disappointed that they had moved the parade forward,” she said.

“We were gutted because we had gone out especially to see the reindeer.”

Dave said he had to bring the parade forward to 4pm following a request from the police, who cordoned off the street.

“The police wanted it starting at 4pm, which is what we did,” he said.

“But the reindeer didn’t leave after the parade they were there in the Bull Ring for everyone to see.”

St Michael’s Church was also heaving for the school choir concert and the sold-out Birmingham Community Gospel Choir concert.

Dave added: “The school’s concert was brilliant and I would just like to thank Ann Kowolska – the bursar at St Mary’s – who co-ordinated it.”

Shoppers were also out in force on Saturday for the Christmas craft market in Southway when the Salvation Army Band provided the festive musical entertainment.