UP to 20,000 people, including Sarah Turner, left, and Lee-Anne Drummond – packed Broadway in Didcot last night for the town’s annual Christmas street fair.

Among those enjoying the spectacle, now in its 18th year, was Adrienne Guiry, 63, from Didcot, along with husband Patrick and grandson James, four.

She said: “We come here every year. It’s a magical occasion and James has been so excited. He has been counting off the days on the calendar.”

Also at the fair, which involved the turning on of the Christmas lights, were Dave and Katy Martin, who live off Broadway. They were there with daughters Poppy, four, and Scarlet, two.

Mr Martin, 30, a station manager for First Great Western, said: “This is a good opportunity for the community of Didcot to prepare for Christmas together and it’s great for the kids.”

Mayor Phil Hayward said: “The street fair is great for the town of Didcot and all the local businesses.”

Didcot Christmas Street Fair chairman Jeanette Howse, inset, said: “It has been a great night and for the first time we set up a stage in the Orchard Centre for pupils from Didcot Girls’ School and St Birinus School to perform numbers from their Wizard of Oz musical.

“And local Brownies hosted a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in the Market Place.

“It’s the first time the fair has extended into the shopping centre and we want to thank the managers for their support.”