Take That reunited on stage for first time in four years as they turn on Regent Street's Christmas Lights

Screaming crowds watched Take That switch on the Regent Street Christmas lights in central London.

Singers Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald flicked the switch to help mark the countdown to Christmas and also pointed out that it was a special day for the band.

Owen said: "This is the first time we have been on stage together for four years. It is good to be here."

Barlow said his best Christmas present was a BMX bike when he was a boy, Owen said it had been a karate suit while Donald said a track by Nat King Cole had been his best festive gift.

This year's lights were themed around the film Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb.

It comes as Take That recently announced a brand new UK tour, which is set to visit Manchester in May and June.

They'll be performing nine dates between May 21 and June 29 - with some of those added as demand for tickets grew.

The three lads will release the new Take That album III, on December 1.

The news of the 24-date tour comes four years since the band's last record-breaking tour Progress Live which saw the original five-man band back together on stage.

The band said: "We've always been very proud of our live shows and are very excited to be touring again next year. Playing live is something we love the most about what we do and we're looking forward to putting on the most amazing show we can.

It will have been four years since our last tour so we're really keen to get back out on the road to play some of our biggest songs from the last twenty years alongside our new ones. We hope to see you there!'

A wealth of entertainment, including performances by Jessie J, Jessie Ware and the Jersey Boys, were part of the event on Sunday hosted by London's Heart breakfast presenters Jamie Theakston and Emma Bunton.

Children got the chance to meet some of their favourite movie characters including Skipper, Rico, Private and Kowalski from the upcoming DreamWorks animation Penguins Of Madagascar as well as Po from Kung Fu Panda and Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon 2.

Living statues from Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb also came to life at sites across Regent Street, including Robin Williams's character Teddy Roosevelt, Steve Coogan's character Octavius, Dan Stevens' character Sir Lancelot, Owen Wilson's character Jedediah and Rami Malek's character, the Egyptian Pharaoh Ahkmenrah.

source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk