Chico - famous for his appearances on music talent show the X Factor and more recently Celeb Air - had visitors rocking in the Market Place as he starred at the Mansfield Christmas Lights Festival.

• To view a video report from the night, click right

The cheeky entertainer certainly made Mansfield 'feel good' as he belted out a selection of disco favourites, as well as his own songs on a soon to be released album.

Chico was then joined on stage by Mansfield's Paralympic gold medal winner Sam Hynd and children's TV favourite Peppa Pig for the big countdown to the switch on of the town's glittering festive lights.

Stars from this year's Mansfield Palace Theatre panto Sleeping Beauty Stephanie McWilliams and Natalie Cleverly, Stags footballers and manager Billy McEwan, Paralympian Charlotte Henshaw and the Mansfield 103.2 and Chad roadshow also took part in the countdown.

Then as the lights were turned on, heads turned skywards for a fireworks display set to music as Christmas in Mansfield was officially launched.

Thousands of people braved the damp, drizzly weather and filled the town centre for the annual event, which saw Father Christmas arrive in style on a vintage fire engine from Mansfield Fire Station Museum.

Earlier, mayor Tony Egginton had launched the festival and revealed full details of his free Christmas parking in Mansfield scheme, designed to help beat the credit crunch. The free parking will run until 11th January all day on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am, and every day from 3pm.

• Free Christmas parking plan unveiled

Visitors to the Christmas Lights Festival didn't miss a thing as two giant screens alongside the main stage ensured that everyone had a good view of the fun.

On the main stage there was entertainment from the 103.2 and Chad Roadshow, Chico, Peppa Pig and Claire Elise - together with appearances by Sam Hynd, panto stars and Stags footballers.

Elsewhere in the town centre, children's rides, toy light-up sabres and stars, not to mention food stalls, gave Mansfield a festive feel - with a snow machine sending flakes over visitors for a real touch of Christmas.

Mansfield's Olympic hero and double gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington - with the Stags players, Sam Hynd and panto stars - also signed autographs later in the evening in the Four Seasons Centre.

The event was organised and supported by Mansfield District Council, Mansfield Town Centre Partnership, Four Seasons Shopping Centre, Mansfield 103.2, Chad and Mansfield Christmas Lights Committee, with support from Experience Nottinghamshire.

It also marks the start of late-night shopping in Mansfield, with shops open in the Four Seasons and elsewhere until 9pm.

Stores will open late every Thursday from the switch-on up to Christmas, when there will also be entertainment — from traditional carol singers to street and children's entertainers – outside the library on West Gate, courtesy of Mansfield District Council.