Thousands see Christmas lights turned on

X Factor star Leona Lewis lit up Britain's most famous shopping street when she switched on the Christmas lights.

The singer, whose debut album is due for release next week, brightened up Oxford Street when she flicked the switch at 6.17pm last night.

Thousands of revellers enjoyed the party with live performances by Westlife and the cast of West End musical Mary Poppins. The theme of this year's lights is the Disney Christmas film, Enchanted.

Lewis said: "I'm really excited about switching on the lights. Just really honoured that I was asked to do it. I had a wonderful Christmas last year. The number one was the best present ever and since then I've just been on a high."

Her album, Spirit, is released next Monday.

After the lights were switched on, Lewis, who won X Factor last year, headed to the premiere of Disney's Enchanted.

Westlife performed their 2001 number-one hit World Of Our Own and also Home from their new album, Back Home, which is released next week.

"Every Christmas we have a new album out so it's always a very busy time for us but also an exciting time too," they said.