Craig David chilled switched on Christmas lights on Sunday

IT is one of the most magical times of the year – when one of the world’s most famous shopping streets is transformed into a winter wonderland for Christmas.

But on Sunday the annual Oxford Street switch-on was not quite as enchanting as some had hoped for when a few lights did not switch on.

Born To Do It singer Craig David was joined on stage by Westminster’s Lord Mayor Steve Summers, in full ceremonial robes, along with last year’s X Factor winner Louisa Johnson, and the boyband The Vamps.

A spokeswoman for the New West End Company blamed it on a “slight technical error”, adding: “Only six out of 250 light lines didn’t go on but were on in a matter of minutes.

“The excitement of the switch-on wasn’t affected.”

The glitch did not take away from the festive feel on the street – people enjoyed a family festival leading up to the switch-on, as Oxford Street turned traffic-free for the day.

This year’s switch-on was in aid of children’s charity NSPCC, with donations ongoing to the charity, and themed decorations adorning the street.

• Researchers from King’s College found that pollution levels dropped in Oxford Street by nearly a third within just a few hours of the road going traffic-free on Sunday. The street – one of the most polluted in Europe – was closed to vehicles from noon to 7pm. Joe Irvin, chief executive of campaign group Living Streets, said: “Oxford Street is Europe’s busiest retail street but also frequently breaches legal limits for NO2.”