Camels were spotted on the streets of Ely on Friday when the city staged its 12th annual Christmas lights switch-on.
The ships of the desert were in the city as part of the Living Nativity and joined the cast’s parade from Cross Green, next to the cathedral, to the main stage in the Market Place where the oldest story was re-told for a packed crowd by members of Churches Together.
Johanna Partridge, secretary for Churches together in Ely, said: “The camels came all the way from Warwickshire and the donkey from the other side of Bury St Edmunds as there are no local donkeys around here belonging to the Actors Union.
“We had over twenty people dressed up and parading through the town and the wise men rode on the camels.”
The city centre streets were closed to traffic for the big switch-on extravaganza which included festive stalls and live music and entertainment throughout the late afternoon and early evening.
The cast of the KD Theatre’s production of Aladdin - this year’s pantomime at The Maltings - and Sing! Choirs of Ely were among those who entertained the hundreds of people who turned out to watch the lights go on.
Ely City Council organise the event, which relies on volunteers including engineers from the Mildenhall Air Base, who help put up the light displays.
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