OXFORD Street’s Christmas lights were switched on last night, Thursday, as rain pelted crowds of festive shoppers.

The street had been transformed into a winter wonderland and there was street entertainment and in-store offers under the “feel the magic” campaign banner. Stars had been hung above shops with organisers inviting donations from the public for the Starlight children’s charity.

The Carnaby Street lights switch-on was delayed due to the heavy rain and wind.

But the Oxford Street event was considered too big to call off at short notice, despite fears of a repeat of scenes a year ago to the day when two giant baubles broke off Christmas installations and hurtled down the famous shopping street.

The “Carnaby Universe” switch on and after party has been moved to November 8 from 4pm to 8pm.

This year’s neon display aims to create a “moving vortex” with “shimmering discs and neon lights”.

But the gloomy weather has not dampened the spirits of Westminster’s city councillors, who are over the moon about new figures showing business is booming once again in the West End.

• CITY economic development lead councillor Geoff Barraclough said: “The prospect of increasing spending in the West End this Christmas is great news as the retail and leisure trade hits what is always a make-or-break period.”

Figures from the New West End Company, which represents 600 retailers, restaurants, hotels and property owners across the West End, including Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street and Mayfair, show a big spike in sales. Company chief executive, Dee Corsi, said the boom came in spite of the cost of living crisis “dampening consumer confidence elsewhere”.