Christmas lights in Bishop Auckland have been switched on with help from Santa and local gymnast Amy Tinkler.
Santa arrived on a trike and switched on the lights from the balcony of the Town Hall with Amy Tinkler. Schools also took part in a carol parade earlier in the evening, with pantomime characters and a fire show providing more entertainment.
The Pod and Auckland Castle hosted special Christmas markets which will continue over the weekend.
“We’ve had a fantastic turn out from the public,” said Cllr Lee Brownson, Mayor of Bishop Auckland.
“We’ve had hundreds of kids coming from all of the schools, it’s been a great success. We’ve had entertainment live on stage with characters from Inside Out, we’ve had Santa arrive to switch on the lights and an appearance from Amy Tinkler.”
Live music performances followed the Christmas market at The Pod gallery, with a regular Thursday evening event to be held until Christmas. Five acoustic acts took to the stage, with the next Bishop’s Buskers event set to feature musical theatre performances and songs from West End show Avenue Q.
A new Christmas market also opened at Auckland Castle on Friday and continues over the weekend.