Almost 15,000 celebrated the countdown to Christmas at Lighting Up Brentwood. 

Brentwood Borough Council hosted its annual festive event in and around Brentwood High Street where visitors enjoyed food, festive drinks and entertainment.

Some even took opportunity to do some Christmas shopping amongst the many stalls selling a range of gifts and crafts.

Mayor of Brentwood, councilor Will Russell, said: “Lighting Up Brentwood is always a popular community event and it was good to see more families and young children come to enjoy the day this year.

"The street entertainers were really good, I particularly liked the Guardsmen who were hilarious. And the acts on the centre stage were fantastic – they really helped to make the day memorable.

"I must give a special thanks to all those in our community who came to support the event, from the voluntary and church organisations, to the street pastors and charity-fund raisers, as well as the volunteers and stewards, without them this event would not have been possible.

"Thanks, must also go to the Baytree Centre, Signature Care Homes, K M Developers UK Ltd, Brentwood Razzamataz and Brentwood Theatre – their invaluable sponsorship allows us to put an event like this on with some great entertainment.”

Entertainment was programmed and hosted by Churches Together across three fantastic stages with a variety of acts including solo artists on the West End stage, choirs and pipe-bands on the Choral stage and a variety of groups, schools and soloists on the Centre stage.

The evening's entertainment culminated with the Imperial Youth Band marching up the High Street to finish in front of the Centre stage and the Mayor of Brentwood, Councilor Will Russell, switched on the Christmas lights with the winners of his Christmas card competition Joshua Owen and Sophie Gunn.

Street performances included a range of acts, from the mystical and majestic Snow Lion, who was prowling around the High Street to the hilarious Granny Turismo wheeling about on their shopping trollies.

There was also the acro-tumbling and juggling elves that were getting up to mischief and the extremely tall Guardsmen watching over the crowds.

A number of small rides were at the event for younger ones, whilst the older ones tried to take on the reindeer rodeo.

This year the crowds also got a chance to glide around an ice-rink that proved extremely popular with all ages.