Fireworks and Christmas lights attracted an estimated 10,000 people to Chelmsford town centre as the festive season began with a bang.

Town centre manager Cathy McBride said she had never seen more people packed into the pedestrianised centre.

People crammed the town centre to see the fireworks display followed by the lighting-up ceremony, which was carried out by television personality Jeremy Spake (left), star of BBC TV's Airport, schoolboy Jordan Grocott and mayor Bill Lane.

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