Brentwood Preparatory School pupil lit up Brentwood for the festive season.

Nine-year-old Joshua Owen had the honor of switching on the Christmas Lights at Brentwood’s annual event.

Thousands of people descended on the town for ‘Lighting up Brentwood’ as Joshua joined Mayor, councillor Will Russell, on the main stage for the big switch on.

Joshua was awarded the starring role as a prize for winning a competition to design the Mayor’s official Christmas card.

His winning entry featured a robin sitting on a branch in the snow expectantly waiting for his stocking to be filled.

School children from across the borough took part in the design competition. This year’s Lighting Up Brentwood festive event had its best turn out to date with almost 15,000 joining the celebrations.

Mayor of Brentwood, councillor Will Russell, said: “There was an exceptional standard of entries for the Christmas card competitions this year; choosing the winner was no easy task. Joshua’s professional looking card would not be out of place in the shops.”