Brighton's Christmas lights switched on in festive afternoon

Sparkling owls, foxes and reindeer returned to Bond Street and Gardner Street, Christmas aliens to North Street and a gleaming cascade of lights to Brighton’s clock tower.

Brilliant Brighton’s annual Christmas lights are funded by the 517 businesses within the business improvement district.

Gardner Street (Image: The Argus) It costs the businesses £100,000 a year to put on the displays.

To celebrate the start of the yuletide season and the return of the illuminations, Brilliant Brighton put on its Festive Afternoon to spread some Christmas magic.

Choirs and bands popped up across The Lanes and North Laine from 2pm until 6pm, while festive helpers dressed as elves could be spotted visiting businesses to hand out goodies.

Streets were heaving with shoppers who could take advantage of a myriad of deals and discounts businesses had put on especially for the afternoon.

The clock tower is sparkling (Image: The Argus) When the lights were turned on, people "oohed" and "aahed" and applauded.

Saturday also saw Father Christmas turn on the Christmas tree lights in Crawley.

Victorian carol singers performed in the Memorial Gardens and there were even silent disco tours.

There are plenty more Christmas light switch on events to look forward to.

Eastbourne's Christmas lights will be switched on at 6pm in Terminus Road on Saturday, November 30.

The entrance to North Laine (Image: The Argus) Leading up to that, there will be a Christmas Market for people to enjoy, as well as live music, entertainment and children's rides.

East Grinstead's Christmas lights will be switched on by Mayor Steve Ody at 5pm on Saturday, November 23.

The event will take place around the High Street and London Road area, which will be closed to traffic between 3pm and 8pm on the day.

A North Street alien (Image: The Argus) Chichester's city centre will have plenty of festivities on Saturday, November 23.

There will be a pop-up food market in East Street, as well as live music and entertainment.

Later in the day the cast of Chichester Festival Theatre’s Cinderella will lead the countdown to the switch on at 5pm outside The Council House in North Street.

Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath will also have their switch on events on November 23, while Seaford’s is on November 30.