It was the magical moment when the spirit of Christmas well and truly took off in Southampton.

Crowds stood open-mouthed as Santa and his reindeer soared though the sky over Above Bar Street at the flagship opening of the city's new Christmas Festival and market on Saturday.

• Southampton Christmas lights - in pictures >>

But though they were dreaming of a white Christmas it was rain rather than the white stuff falling from the skies as the city welcoming the country's first ever flying sleigh.

The big man arrived as part of a drive to brighten up the festive season in the city.

Recent markets were criticised by civic chiefs for being “underwhelming” and failing to stand out from other cities.

And the city did not even have a Christmas tree until the Daily Echo stepped alongside local businesses to ensure the city could celebrate the festive season in style.

But this year's festival is under the management of new German organisers WELA Märkte who hope that more than one million people will visit the city centre over the festive season.

Andree Lagenscheidt, from WELA Markte, said: "We couldn't wait to launch the Southampton Christmas Festival. It's brand new and exciting for Southampton and has taken a lot of hard work and months of planning.

"We have been building the Festival throughout the month so we are very excited to now see Above Bar lit up and the uniquely designed chalets filled with great Christmas gifts and authentic German fare.

"And don't forget, we've introduced a UK first - Flying Santa. This is something not to be missed."

Rows of individually-designed Alpine chalets opened offering traditional German bratwurst sausages, beers, salmon smoked over logs, gingerbread hearts and candied fruit, plus a selection of gifts including mesmerising hanging mobiles, jewellery and crafts.

There was is also a stall where children can make their own snow.

Santa Claus arrived after a countdown to turn on the lights including a star perched at the top of the 25m high zip wire stretching from WestQuay shopping centre to the Bargate where his sleigh was poised to run along.

The crowd was urged to shout out 'Father Christmas' before he appeared in the sleigh and began slowly moving along the wire.

People appeared more flabbergasted at the stunt - watching rather than cheering - especially when the unlit sleigh stopped briefly in the middle of the ride before setting off again into the distance and then reversing back to the start.

Children were able to meet Father Christmas at the doors of a giant advent calendar, where they received presents from him.

Santa - aka high-wire artist Falko Traber – will be running twice-daily flights until December 23.

Mr Traber has held seven world records during a four decade-long career as a high-wire artist.

Klaus Biedermann and Mexx2 will provide a traditional Bavarian musical accompaniment.

Each performance will last for about 20 minutes.