Watch: Meadowhall kick-starts Christmas with host of familiar characters in noisy festive parade

The mega-mall came to a standstill as a procession set off from New Look led by a band and featuring the Grinch, the Snow Queen, a lion, acrobats, Prince Charming and Santa in an elf-driven sleigh - with Cinderella in the back.

Scores of parents and excited youngsters lined up to watch and have their pictures taken as it inched along The Gallery and High Street before finishing at the end of Park Lane in front of the former Debenhams. From there it was a short lift ride up to the 'Christmas Chronicles' attraction in the former Top Man. It is billed as a 'magical journey' to meet Santa which includes a trip through the Ice Kingdom, a trip on a train, which is outside, then back inside to meet the man in his grotto.

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