Merlin kicks off Ilfracombe Christmas magic

CROWDS packed the square by Ilfracombe war memorial to watch the town s annual Christmas lights switch on. Guest of honour to conduct the ceremony this year was North Devon stuntman and Britain s Got Talent contestant Merlin Cadogan, who is also appearing

CROWDS packed the square by Ilfracombe war memorial to watch the town's annual Christmas lights switch on.

Guest of honour to conduct the ceremony this year was North Devon stuntman and Britain's Got Talent contestant Merlin Cadogan, who is also appearing in the Queen's Theatre pantomime Cinderella.

After a short service led by the Reverend Giles King-Smith and carols from the Ilfracombe Parish Church Choir, from aboard an open topped Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park bus Merlin officially declared Ilfracombe open for Christmas and the ceremony ended with the snap, crackle and flash of fireworks.

Then the bus, followed by the TLC Santa Claus Sleigh and hundreds of revellers made its way to the High Street for a spot of late night Christmas shopping.

See the Gazette this Wednesday for more pictures and the full story.