The countdown to Christmas officially began at the weekend when residents and visitors braved the cold and came together in the village centre for the Handforth Christmas lights switch on.
Crowds gathered at the Paddock on Saturday, 25th November, for this ever popular event organised by Handforth Parish Council to mark the run up to Christmas.
Parish Clerk Ashley Comiskey Dawson said "Although it was a very cold afternoon, the weather remained clear and there was a great turnout at the Paddock for this year's Christmas lights switch on.
"Everybody who braved the cold weather and came, enjoyed the community stalls, the live reindeer proved incredibly popular and there was a constant stream of children visiting Santa Claus in his grotto.
"Entertainment on the day was brilliant with music provided by the Dean Row rotary Club, and live performances from the YSBD theatre academy, the Salvation Army and Maxine Cherrie and her rock choir singing some songs a cappella."
The honour of switching on the Christmas lights went to the winner of the Christmas poster competition, 9-year-old Felix, whilst 9 year-old Phebe Mallinson won a special place on the stage at the switch-on for submitting a poem, which she read out.
Second prize in the poster competition went to Olivia Facchin, age nine, and third place to Helena Vale, age six.
