Hundreds of people who gathered to see Oxford's Christmas lights switched on at the weekend were briefly fooled into thinking it had all gone horribly wrong.

Shrek gives Amanda Barrie and Lord Mayor Bob Price a hand

Star guest Amanda Barrie, Alma in the TV soap Coronation Street, handed over the light switch after two attempts left Cornmarket Street in darkness.

Watching the event on Saturday with her three children, Zena Leaman said: "It wouldn't go on at first, she tried it again and they still wouldn't go on. In the end they got Shrek to do it."

The problems turned out to be a joke -- Oxford City Council was having a little laugh about the event in 2003 when the lights failed to work at all for Coronation Street's Peter Barlow, actor Chris Gascoyne.

Victoria Leamen, 10, seven-year-old James and four-year-old Grace, all agreed Shrek was their favourite star of the day.

Mrs Leaman said: "The parade was very good, the atmos

phere has been great."

Taking part in the parade, which travelled from the Westgate Centre, along Queen Street, and into Cornmarket Street, were representatives from schools and businesses across the county, as well as a samba band and cast members from the Wizard of Oz, which includes Ms Barrie, and Snow Queen pantomimes.

Two groups of majorettes also joined the march -- the Marston Majorettes and the Strawberry Fayre group, from Cowley.

Beth Lock, 10, part of the Strawberry team, said all their hard work and practice had paid off and nobody had put a foot, or a stick, wrong.

She added: "It was really good, just marching down the road."

Her family were watching, and grandmother Susanne Law said: "It's the first time I have seen her. I was very proud."

Shoppers were also entertained with performances from local singers including Zoe Mace, the 11-year-old star from Freeland.

Choirs and school groups also took to the stage and performed to the crowds, including pupils from Brookside Primary, in Bicester, and Watlington Primary School.