FARNHAM stepped into Christmas on Saturday as thousands of people headed to Gostrey Meadow for the festive lights switch-on.

An afternoon of entertainment and seasonal songs from schoolchildren brought a warm glow to the meadow, where the switch-on was performed by Derek Moran from Channel 5's Milkshake! programme and Farnham mayor Paddy Blagden – with help from characters from three pantomimes that will be staged locally in the coming weeks.

For pictures of the big switch-on, see this week's Farnham Herald.