THE Christmas countdown is on in Weymouth as the festive lights in the town centre were switched on in front of hundreds of people.

People gathered to see the spectacle on Saturday, listen to music from different singers and enjoy other live entertainment on offer on a stage outside Debenhams.

There was even a section for children to have their faces painted and in Hope Square there was more live music and market stalls.

The Weymouth BID also launched its new Christmas attraction, the Cinder Trail, which was popular with the crowds. It is running throughout December.

David Williams from Dorset-based Slick Events helped organise this year's Christmas events with Weymouth BID.

He said: "It came from a chat in the summer and the BID asked for something different for Christmas this year to get people walking around the town. That's when we came up with the idea of the Cinder Trail."

The Cinder Trail is made up of six lighting and sound installations dotted around Weymouth town. Each ones tells a part of the Cinderella story.

Mr Williams added: "We composed all of the music ourselves and we even narrated the story ourselves as well, slightly adapting the original.

"This is the first installation of its kind ever built in the UK."

Claudia Moore, chairman of Weymouth BID, said: "We have a variety of entertainment on offer, more music and lights.

"We have more lights than we have had in any other years. More lights more music and it's gone pretty well so far, everyone is having a good time.

"You can download a map of the trail from www.weareweymouth.co.uk and if you put any posts on social media, make sure to hashtag Weymouth Cinder Trail in the post."

Weymouth resident Claire Gardiner said: "This is fantastic, the tree looks lovely and the kids loved the magicians and the singers."

Sally White thought the Cinder Trail sounded like an interesting idea: "That sounds nice, a bit different to what they normally have in Weymouth so I might take the grandkids along to it."