HUNDREDS of people packed into Abingdon's town centre on Saturday as Joanna Page from Gavin and Stacey switched on the Christmas lights.

Taking to the stage set up in Market Place the actress, who is best known for being Stacey in the series, said that Abingdon was much 'posher' than Barry – where the programme is set.

She was joined by the Mayor on stage, before pressing the big red button which lit up the town's twinkling hanging lights and queued the firework display.

Paul Townsend, who is one of the six organisers from the Chamber of Commerce, said: "It's been one of the best ones so far.

"It's taken a year to organise, we start organising the next year as soon as this one is finished."

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He explained that the team always try and get a celebrity to come along and this year was one of the only Oxfordshire town's to get a star guest line up on stage.

Last year saw the town's lights swithce don by 90s pop group The Honeyz and in 2016 by former members of 90s band S club 7.

This year they asked Joanna Page to come down ahead of the Christmas Day special.

On stage she teased an exclusive before 'running out of time' and making everybody wait until the 25th instead.

She said: "Oh! Abingdon! Oh! It's quite lush here – much posher than Barry."

She split the crowd into two parts doing a shout-off of 'oh what's occurring'.

On stage before hand a raffle was announced, with the winners being number 100 and 79.

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It followed local bands and a choir who had given top-tapping performances to the growing crowd throughout the afternoon.

Mr Townsend added: "We also have got local bands on stage like Jack Lester and have stalls with charities.

"They can't afford to put on big events like this so it really helps having something annual that everybody comes to."

The Crown and Thistle also put on a BBQ for crowds to enjoy with burgers and hotdogs cooked on the grill by the head chef Lois Lopez.

Wimpie Blatt, the general manager of the hotel was overseeing the crowds, which gathered in masses.

He said the celebrity always helps get the locals out for the 'community event of the year'.

He said: "It's so busy, it's been really popular here and we've had the most turn out.

"It's the event of all events in Abingdon."

Hundreds of people also turned up to light switch-on events in Bicester and Headington at the weekend.