More than 400 people gathered on the riverside for the Richmond lights switch on with Santa, a virtual Anton Du Beke, choirs, and the mayor.

Dancing Star Wars Stormtroopers, Peter Rabbit and the Harlequins mascot, Harley, also joined the throng, proving popular with selfie-hunters.

Families enjoyed performances from local choirs, including members of the Skylarks charity, who are involved in a Christmas fund-raising drive, St Richards Primary School and Falcons Prep.

Anton Du Beke, who was busy with dress rehearsals for the panto, Cinderella, which begins at Richmond Theatre today - Friday - sent a video message to the event.

The Christmas lights event is financed and organised Be Richmond, which is an alliance of some 300 local businesses, who also provide and pay for the town centre lights and decorations. A series of video montages featured local retailers and others wishing residents a merry Christmas.

Richmond mayor, Cllr Geoff Acton, and Council leader, Gareth Roberts, joined Santa and the elves on the stage for to push the button to light up the town.

The Be Richmond chair, Ann Chapman-Daniel, who is co-founder and CEO of Minesoft, the Richmond-based global patent information solutions provider, told the crowd about its efforts to support the local economy through the pandemic.

She also revealed plans to create a permanent town hall square outdoor entertainment space at the top of the riverside terrace where it joins Whittaker Avenue.

"Be Richmond has been really busy. We were helping the businesses of Richmond coming out of Covid, having safe spaces to go into all the lovely shops and hospitality we have here," she said.

She also urged local businesses to take part in a ballot to decide whether Be Richmond should continue for another five years. Voting YES is the only way its work and services will continue with a second term beginning on April 1, 2022.

Details of the ballot can be found here.