CROWDS enjoyed a spectacular evening of festive entertainment as Brewery Square began the Christmas countdown in style last night.

Thousands turned out to enjoy the switching on of the Dorchester square’s lights and the opening of the new synthetic ice rink and they were treated to a show stopping performance of dance and entertainment.

Stilt walkers, dancers with fire and an enchanting ballet display in a snow dome enthralled the families who filled the square before the new quarter was lit up in all its glory.

Andrew Wadsworth, a director of the development, said he was relieved that the evening went without a hitch as many hours of hard work paid off.

He said: “It was a big undertaking and to be doing this in front of three or four thousand people meant there were one or two little nervous moments.

“When they were counting down for the lights I was thinking ‘please God, let them go on’.”

Mr Wadsworth said that, with a major portion of the town’s population turning out to enjoy the event, the evening was a landmark moment for the square and all the businesses now operating there and in many ways it was more significant than when it first opened.

He said: “I think it’s more meaningful than when the square opened because lots of things have now opened.”

Peter Hyde, who runs Trinity Street Christmas Trees, and his wife Tamzin, who is managing Skating in the Square, had been working non-stop in the days running up to the event to get everything ready.

As well as two 27-foot trees, Peter has overseen the installation of a further 30 trees around the square and the illuminating display boasts over 30,000 LED lights.

The skating has proved a massive draw with more than 1,500 people already having booked online.

Tamzin said: “It’s been brilliant and everyone seems really excited.”

County town resident Jago Oak-Rhind, 11, was among the first to hit the rink, which features a synthetic material designed to be as close as possible to real ice.

He admitted that he had fallen over once but said it was a really good experience and the addition of the ice rink was great for the town.

He said: “It was good fun, I think they should do it more often.”

To book for the skating visit skatinginthesquare.co.uk