Television chef and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ainsley Harriott joined in the festive fun in Earlsfield as the town switched on its first Christmas lights. 

November 10: Business work to light up Earlsfield this Christmas

The Ready, Steady, Cook star mingled with Earlsfield residents and took questions from the audience before counting down to the switch-on.

 

 

The town's lights have been funded by businesses, including Hampton International Estate and Letting Agents, after Earlsfield Business Network and the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce led the campaign. 

Burntwood School's Year 7 chamber choir performed carols, with choir director Debbie Lammin confessing she "hates" Christmas carols. 

Earlsfield Primary School also performed Christmas songs, along with the Mayor of Wandsworth Councillor Nicola Nardelli. 

Dan Watkins, Conservative parliamentary spokesman for Tooting and member of Earlsfield Business Network, said: "That local businesses could rally round and raise the money for our first Christmas lights, and that local residents turned up in their hundreds, shows what a fantastic community spirit has developed in Earlsfield.

"Ainsley Harriott responding to my invitation to support the switch-on is the icing on the cake and on behalf of everyone here tonight I want to say a big thanks to him."

Green, red and blue lights will deck 19 lamp posts along Garratt Lane between Earlsfield Road and Isis Street for five weeks in the lead up to Christmas.