MORE than 500 people packed Abingdon town centre for the annual Christmas lights extravaganza.

About 200 Scouts, Sea Scouts and Brownies gathered in Queen Street at 6.30pm before parading along Stert Street to the old County Hall for the switch-on of the Christmas lights at 7pm.

Town mayor Duncan Brown and other town councillors invited BBC Radio Oxford’s Louisa Hannan to switch on the lights on Tuesday.

Ms Hannan got a cheer as she stood on the steps of the town museum and told the crowds that Abingdon’s switch-on ceremony was better than Oxford’s.

Fifty-two shops stayed open late and welcomed customers with mince pies and mulled wine.

Mr Brown told the crowd: “The town looks fantastic, the parade looks fantastic and there are hundreds of people here.”

The Throwing Buns cafe in Market Place was packed with customers enjoying mince pies and mulled wine.

Kate Stalder, who runs the cafe with her partner Phil May, said: “The extravaganza night is very good for business and it’s great to see families out together.”

The switch-on ceremony was followed by a fireworks display at 8.15pm.

The extravaganza is backed by Abbey Shopping Centre, otherwise known as the Bury Street precinct, Mays Properties, Abingdon Chamber of Commerce and Abingdon Town Council.

Terry Boswell, joint president of the Chamber of Commerce, said: “It was a good start to Christmas for the traders.

“It’s one of the first extravaganza nights I can remember when there has been snow on the ground.”

Last month the town council asked contractors to supply a new Christmas tree because the first one was muddy and broken.