Twinkling lights now adorn Uxbridge High Street and its Christmas tree after the big switch on last night (Thursday).

The mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Allan Kauffman, threw the switch outside Uxbridge station, following a performance of carols and festive songs by Uxbridge Choral Society.

Uxbridge Christmas light
Uxbridge Christmas light

His arrival, with mayoress Mrs Lynn Kauffman in a car provided by Hillingdon Motor Museum, was heralded by the dhol drummers of Uxbridge High School.

Uxbridge College dancers performed in the area in front of Uxbridge station as a crowd gathered, and the Harris and Hoole coffee shop resident jazz band, Jazz Whatever, performed later, under the Market House portico.

The town centre is now fully illuminated, after the two High Street shopping centres – intu Uxbridge and the Pavilions – switched on their lights earlier in the month.

Then later in the evening, the Uxbridge ice rink was opened for the season by the mayor in the piazza in front of Hillingdon Civic Centre.