PICTURES: Thousands flock to Barnstaple Christmas Lights Switch-On

Thousands of people flocked to Barnstaple town centre on Thursday (December 1) for this year's Christmas Lights Switch-On event.

The Strand, and the pannier market were packed with street food vendors, craft and charity stalls, while the Square became the centrepiece of the event.

There was live music hosted by The Voice radio station, appearances from the cast of the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime, currently showing at the Queens Theatre, special messages from the town's mayor and the town council's chaplain before the lights were switched on by Jed Mason, a Barnstaple plumber who has been battling cancer.

The lights switch-on event this year coincided with Barnstaple Town Council's annual Christmas Fayre.

The same night heralded the start of a series of late night shopping events, which will be taking place every Thursday until December 22. Alongside this, parking will be free at North Devon Council (NDC)-managed car parks across the district on Thursdays from 3pm until charges resume the following morning.

Shoppers will also be able to access free parking in NDC-managed car parks during the lead-up to the big day; from Monday, December 19, to Monday, December 26, parking will be free from 4pm in Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and South Molton (from 3pm on Thursday, December 22).

Barnstaple Pannier Market - with its festive wreaths adorning the ceilings and a host of unique gifts stalls - also has extended opening hours, welcoming visitors between 9am and 4pm, seven days a week from Thursday, December 1, until Christmas Eve. In line with Barnstaple's late night shopping, the market will be open until 8pm, every Thursday from December 1-22.

Barnstaple Town Centre Manager, Hannah Harrington, said: "There are so many great reasons to visit your local town centres this Christmas. With free parking and opportunities to shop late into the evening, we hope North Devon residents will visit Barnstaple town centre and take advantage of all the brilliant local businesses and traders we have right on our doorsteps.

"Come along, soak up the festive atmosphere, pick up some unique Christmas gifts and enjoy a mince pie or mulled wine, whilst supporting the local businesses and traders that make these events possible. As our local businesses recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, it is as important as ever that we continue to support our locally-owned retail and hospitality businesses by taking the opportunity to #LiveLoveLocalNorthDevon."

To stay up-to-date on what events and activities are happening in the market over Christmas, residents can visit - northdevon.gov.uk/events-at-the-market.

Information on parking in North Devon Council-managed car parks is available on the council's website at www.northdevon.gov.uk/parking.