Thousands watch festive switch-on

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Thousands of people turned out to see the lights switched on at Belfast City Hall

Christmas arrived in Belfast on Tuesday night with the switch-on of the festive lights and the opening of the continental market in the grounds of City Hall.

About 15,000 people flooded onto the city's streets to see the lights switched on by last year's X-factor finalists Same Difference and Hollyoaks actor Gerard McCarthy.

Revellers fought the cold with treats from the continental market which is now in its 5th year.

The Christmas market has attracted more traders than ever - from as far afield as Lapland, Moscow, Warsaw and Belarus.

Allan Hartwell, director of Marketplace Europe, said it was fast becoming "one of the best in Europe".

There are more than 80 stalls at the continental market this year

"It just keeps growing and growing and I think we are definitely in the top three of the United Kingdom and I think we're within the top ten of Europe," he said.

"All year round there is an excitement about the Belfast market. It's absolutely superb, it's a major part of our calendar."

When the market first came to city hall it had only 30 stalls.

It now boasts more than 80 stalls with everything from crepes and bratwurst, to didgeridoos, Russian dolls and statues from Kenya.

"It's fantastic for Belfast. A lady came to the city hall yesterday and peeked her head through the railings and said you can always tell when Christmas is coming because the market's in town," said Mr Hartwell.

The continental market will be open until Saturday 20 December.