FAMILIES enjoyed some festive fun when Pinner Pantomime Evening rolled into town for the sixteenth time.

Crowds swelled to watch the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Eric Silver, switch on the Christmas lights in High Street at 5pm to mark the start of the festivities before several school choir and bands, along with other ensembles and theatre groups, performed to the public.

Visitors could tuck into seasonal fare – mulled wine and warm mince pies were among the traditional favourites - from one of the various food stalls available and the younger ones were able to enjoy the funfair rides, face painting, balloon modelling or Santa's grotto.

Many stores kept their doors open later to encourage a few hours extra gift shopping and a lot of staff chose to don fancy dress, while just as in previous years, businesses competed in the themed window display competition.

To make sure things really did go out with a bag, everyone gathered in Pinner Memorial Park in Chapel Lane, Pinner, for the culminating fireworks display.

The responsibility for being the first group to lead the crowd in winter tunes following the lighting up of the Christmas tree fell this year to the upper school choir of Pinner Wood School in Latimer Gardens, Pinner.

Deputy headteacher Sue Ellis said: "We sang a mixture of traditional carols, for example 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful' and 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing' and modern Christmas songs like 'Midnight' and 'Christmas Calypso'.

"The children were very enthusiastic and we had a huge crowd of parents and friends that had come to watch.

"The children particularly enjoyed the count down from '10' with the mayor to begin the lights switch on. The mayor was very supportive and congratulated them on their singing."