IT was the "busiest year yet" at  Ringwood Winter 'Wanderland', with hundreds of people turning out for the festive celebration.

Ringwood's spectacular Christmas celebration on Sunday, November 27, saw the town centre bedazzled with lights, market stalls and street entertainment.

This year’s Ringwood Winter ‘Wanderland’ kicks off with the annual community event on Sunday, November 27.

The free event, organised by Ringwood Town Council, took place in the town centre and scale up this year with festive activities spilling out into the Gateway, High Street, Market Place and Southampton Road.

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Organisers described the build-up to this year’s event as “even more exciting” after the major A31 roadworks were completed ahead of schedule, avoiding a clash with the event and making the town fully accessible once again.

For the first time, a mini ‘Polar Express’  provided children’s rides from Friday’s Cross.

The miniature steam train was operated by Chuffley Light Railway.

Cllr Rae Frederick, deputy town Major of Ringwood said: "It's been absolutely fantastic to see everyone coming back down to Ringwood now that the A31 is open.

"We have huge crowds and it looks like everyone is thoroughly enjoying themselves. 

"It’s only going to get busier because more people will be coming to see the light switch on which is at 6 pm tonight. 

"We also have managed to cover a lot more of Ringwood this year with things to do spread across the whole of the town centre. 

"I think this might be the busiest year yet, it's great to see."

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Santa's reindeer also attended the Ringwood celebration, he waited outside Santa's grotto by the Gateway.

There was also live stage music, with performances from Churches Together Community Choir, Rock Choir, Paul Walker and Sodapops.

The community event, which started at 11.30am, also included a market with more than 60 stalls made up of local arts, crafts and produce, gifts and charity stalls.