HUGE crowds gathered in the centre of Maidstone for the annual switch-on of the Christmas lights by the Mayor, Cllr Pat Marshall.

She was joined by the stars from this year's Hazlitt Theatre pantomime, The Wizard of Oz, for the spectacular ceremony outside the Town Hall. They included Australian actress Rebecca Ritters, a star in the BBC soap opera Neighbours, who is playing the lead role of Dorothy.

The ceremony was the culmination of a spectacular day long Maidstone Winter Lights Festival which attracted thousands of people into town.

Throughout the day the town centre had come alive with performances by entertainers and musicians and fun and games courtesy of KM-fm radio, while Kent Messenger promotions staff handed out goodie bags and sweets to children.

The lights switch-on was followed by the launch of a new outdoor digital art projection called The River which was beamed onto the side of the Law Courts.

The film is being shown every evening this week at 5.30pm until Sunday. The best viewing position is on the main bridge across the River Medway.