Hayley MaceA television favourite got in the pantomime spirit to switch on Lowestoft's Christmas lights on Saturday afternoon.Anne Charleston, who has starred as Madge Bishop in Neighbours and as Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale, switched on the town centre's festive illuminations.Hayley Mace

Television favourites got in the pantomime spirit to switch on Lowestoft's Christmas lights on Saturday afternoon.

Anne Charleston, who has starred as Madge Bishop in Neighbours and as Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale, switched on the town centre illuminations.

Children's television presenter Dave Benson Phillips, who was also supposed to attend, was stuck in traffic. Both are about to start rehearsals for their roles as the Fairy Godmother and Buttons in Cinderella at the town's Marina Theatre.

Father Christmas also made an appearance before heading to his grotto in the Godfreys department store.

t For photographs of the switch-on, see Monday's paper.

Fakenham's lights were switched on and fire works let off in the packed Market Place on Saturday at 4.30pm to a packed crowd.

Despite a slight hitch, with one set of lights not coming on, people had flooded into the town from 3pm and stayed around after the switch on until about 6pm, said Janet Holdom, co-ordinator of the Fakenham Area Partnership, which helped organise the event.

She said there were more young people in groups this year and they had had great support from businesses in and around the town as well as from volunteers.

Mild weather and the rain holding off helped create a buzz as high school students performed excerpts of pantomines and stalls, carol singers and fairground rides filled the town.