IT is now official – Christmas is definitely under way in the city of Winchester.

The cathedral’s festive market and ice rink was opened in an eye-catching ceremony after a lantern parade through the city.

Scores of residents made lanterns for the event with 400 people assembled outside the Great Hall.

Spectators lined the route through the medieval heart of the city, including the Westgate, High Street, Buttercross, and finally the cathedral itself.

Several hundred people were already there and when the procession met the crowd, more than 1,000 people were packed into the Inner Close.

They were welcomed by the Dean of the cathedral, the Very Rev James Atwell.

He said: “It’s quite amazing to see these lanterns, which are fantastic and it will be really hard to pick a winner.”

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That job fell to Nathan Ibbotson from Waitrose in Weeke, who chose a nativity scene along with a jellyfish, dove, cat, several other animals and Christmas pudding.

Cllr Richard Izard, the mayor of Winchester, then officially opened the ice rink and market.

He said: “This has been going for five years now and the first year there were about 40 chalets in the market, but this year there’s 86.”

The ice rink is being provided by Cousins Entertainment, led by gold medal-winning ice skater Robin Cousins.

He attended the opening and paid tribute to the event’s growing success.

“This has been very much a real community effort over the last five years and we’re very happy to be a part of it,” he said.

His rink is becoming a regular attraction along with the market, which together attracted around 300,000 visitors last year.

This year’s rink was opened last night with a display by ice dancers from Basingstoke.

It will be in place until Monday, January 3, while the market beside it will trade until Sunday, December 19. The market features a host of wooden chalets selling gifts and crafts along with a refreshment area.