LEGENDARY musician Ray Dorset, alias Mungo Jerry, entertained the crowd at the Westbourne Christmas lights switch-on event on Saturday evening.

Performing on a stage set up in Landseer Road, the veteran rocker played a mix of his old favourites and a cover or two, bringing the day's celebrations to a close with an appropriately festive atmosphere.

To see pictures from the event visit our gallery here.

The day's events, organised by the Westbourne Traders Association, began in the morning with Father Christmas being escorted to his grotto in the Arcade by two fire engines from Westbourne station - Santa himself riding in a vintage car.

He was welcomed by hundreds of children, as well as Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns and council leader John Beesley.

Music was a major theme of the day, with performances from Swing Unlimited Community Big Band, local band the Jimmy Hillbillies, Bournemouth University Big Band and opera singer Richard Knight - who serenaded shoppers around the town - among others.

There were also ten buskers playing at 'busk stops' around the village, a reindeer trail, and some 60 businesses took part in the festive window competition. Chamber of Trade and Commerce chief executive Ian Girling picked the winner - Attico in the Arcade with its 'skiing Santa' motif.

In the afternoon Howie Casey, former saxophonist with Paul McCartney’s Wings, performed on the stage with his 10-piece band ‘Beatles with Wings’ playing many classic hits from both pop superstar bands, and young singers including those from SBLAS Performing Arts School kept the crowd entertained until Mungo started his set at around 5.20pm.

Among those attending the evening concert were Mike and Jackie Hickling from Ashley Cross, with youngsters Archie, 12, and Millie, nine.

"We didn't come last year but thought we would make a bit of an effort this time after we heard it had been quite good," said Mr Hickling.

"It is a great way to get into the Christmas atmosphere and get it all started."

The event, as well as the Christmas lights themselves, were funded by the Coastal Business Improvement District.

"We are delighted with how the day's events went," said Steve Taylor, chairman of the traders' association.

"Throughout the day, organised to coincide with Small Business Saturday, there were thousands of people coming through the area and everyone seemed to be doing a brisk trade."