The countdown to Christmas began in Witney on Friday evening with all the traditional themes - and a touch of showbiz.

Darts legends Eric Bristoe and John Lowe, in town for the night, entered into the festive fun by riding motorcycles in the parade through the streets.

They then joined Witney MP and Conservative Party leader David Cameron for the turning of the Christmas lights in the Market Square.

Watching everything and taking her own part in the ceremony was Ellen Murphy, 10, pupil at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and this year's Witney Winter Princess.

Mayor Chrissie Curry said: "It was a fabulous event - the crowds were phenomenal despite the rain.

"You can always count on the people of Witney to turn up, and they had a fabulous time.

"The four darts players were brilliant and the lights were fantastic."

About 2,000 people, most of them parents with children, joined in the festivities overseen by Oxford United's community officer Peter Rhodes-Brown as master of ceremonies.

Santa arrived by reindeer, there were fairground rides, carol singers, a pig roast laid on by Witney Rotary Club, and charity and gift stalls and a toy display put on by the Witney Model and Collectors Club at the Corn Exchange.

The Dirty Earth Band provided live music.

Ms Curry said it was going to be one of the best ever Christmas lights evenings for the town. It was also an evening for her to take centre stage as she was partnered by Witney breast cancer charity fundraiser Jeanne Chattoe in a darts challenge with Eric Bristoe, John Lowe, Keith Deller and Cliff Lazarenko at the Langdale Hall.

The darts event, organised by Witney fan Colin Smith, raised money for cancer charities.

On the same night, neighbouring Carterton began its Christmas celebrations with a fair of about 50 stalls manned by local businesses and charities, and schoolchildren singing carols in the town centre.

The town had to delay its switch-on by an hour to await the arrival of David Cameron after his visit to Witney.

But Carterton did have something the bigger town didn't - a fireworks display, laid on by Lester Giles of Giles' toys and sports shop, on the Alvescot Road recreation ground.