A town's Christmas tree lights were quietly switched on this afternoon without an official countdown or any fanfare.

The season to be jolly began inconspicuously in Jubilee Square, Maidstone.

As the KM revealed earlier this month, Maidstone is the only major town without an official switch-on event.

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Instead, two Christmas tree light displays and strings of lights on the town hall quietly came on this evening.

But it was a far cry from the enthusiastic crowds packing out Fremlin Walk last year where the countdown was conducted.

Maidstone Borough Council and Fremlin Walk both used to hold switch-on ceremonies, but Maidstone cancelled its event in 2013.

Since 2014 Fremlin Walk has held the town's only event and last year the cast of Peter Pan helped turn the lights on.

This year the shopping centre will offer a range of activities over a longer period of time. These include Christmas tree displays, a giant polar bear and a screen to show festive films.

Fremlin Walk's lights near to House of Fraser will be powered up on Saturday, November 24.

Next year One Maidstone, the town centre management company will take on the responsibility for the town's lights.

Click here for details of Christmas lights switch on event across Kent.