Christmas celebrations are now taking place in Oxford and towns and villages around the county.

Here we look back at how Witney staged a big celebration in 2018 for the inaugural Witney Wonderland festival.

The five-week festival launched at St Mary's Church, after families crammed into Market Square to watch the town's Christmas lights switch-on.

The festivities featured music performances, roaming entertainers and a display of 28 towering Christmas trees.

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Each was decorated and illuminated by a businesses, community group or charity, including Oxford-based hospice Helen & Douglas House.

The church festival was organised by Dianne Parkes, co-founder of children's cancer charity Joss Searchlight, and Toby Wright, area dean of Witney.

Mrs Parkes, who lives in the town, set up the charity with her husband after their son Joss died of cancer aged 10.

She said in 2018: "It was just amazing. We had queues and queues of people and sadly had to turn some away.

"It just looks so beautiful - I really hope this is the first of many.

"I think some people thought it would be a big party but most people saw there were emotional reasons behind it.

"There were people in wheelchairs with life-threatening illnesses who helped to make the church look fabulous. One came over and said 'that was the best day I've had in months.'"

The church festival raised money for Joss Searchlight as well as the Parishes of Witney.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF