Around 1,000 people celebrated the official start of Christmas by flocking to Accrington’s lights switch-on and firework display on Thursday.

There was festive fun for everyone from toddlers to grandparents with a live music show on the stage outside the town hall featuring X Factor runner-up Misha B, Britain’s Got Talent’s Henry Gallagher and former Liberty X singer Kevin Simm.

Change the Game singer and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Gabz and Matt Fitzgerald, formerly of ReConnected, also performed, alongside appearances from the Cinderella cast members and Accrington footballers.

A host of fairground rides and a European gift market on Broadway along with late night shopping kept both children and their parents happy.

Handmade goods, soaps, crepes and jewellery were on sale and there were Christmas treat stalls for visitors to treat themselves or their friends and families.

Craft stalls in the town hall and games tents including fairground favourites such as Hook-A-Duck were also part of the evening, with the Town Hall’s cinema screen showing iconic Christmas film The Snowman.

Hyndburn Mayor Coun Marlene Haworth, who flicked the switch to illuminate the town, said it was “an absolutely brilliant night”.

She added: “The weather wasn’t very good but it didn’t matter, everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. There wasn’t one hitch either! In troubled times it was great for the people of Hyndburn to come together and lighten the mood in time for Christmas. The acts were great and the fireworks were superb. The people made the night.”

Even Channel Four turned up to do a spot of filming ahead of their coverage of the Limewood Christmas Lights event on December 1, the footage for which will be shown on December 14.

Coun Clare Cleary, Hyndburn council’s cabinet member for town centres, said: “The whole thing went like clockwork.

“I know we are not a big city here but I think people have a genuine affection for the Christmas lights.

“A lot of the shops were open for the first time as well which was really nice.

“It really was a fantastic family event, there were loads of children everywhere.

“There were parents, grandparents, people of all ages came along and had a really good time.”