VIDEO: Toploader’s Joe switches on Ely’s Christmas lights

More than 5,000 people descended on Ely on Friday night to watch Joe Washbourn from rock band Toploader switch on the city’s Christmas lights.

Ely Christmas Lights Switch on. Picture: Clinton Edwards. - Credit: Archant

Washbourn appeared on stage with just a keyboard and entertained the crowd with solo renditions of his band’s new single This is the Night as well as crowd favourite Dancing in the Moonlight.

Ely Christmas Lights Switch on. Picture: Clinton Edwards. - Credit: Archant

The rocker took to the stage not long after a pantomime cow and, to the delight of crowds, quipped: “It’s not often you follow a cow on stage”.

Earlier in the evening, the gathered thousands were treated to performances from KD Productions’ cast of its Ely panto Jack and the Beanstalk, the Feathers School of Dance and Star Radio, amongst others.

Around the city there were dozens of stalls selling everything from gin to Christmas gifts, alongside raffles, tombolas, games, a hog roast, Santa’s grotto, a helter skelter.

The mayor of Ely, Cllr Elaine Griffin-Singh and Ely’s town crier Avril Hayter-Smith were also in attendance in full regalia, while the High Street played host to a live nativity, organised by Churches Together in Ely.