CHRISTMAS arrived in Accrington with a host of X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent stars entertaining crowds.

The place lit up when three-year-old Charlie Proctor from Church pushed the plunger outside the town hall.

The youngster has spent much of the year in hospital as he battles liver cancer.

His parents Amber and Ben said they are now focusing on making positive memories for Charlie.

Hundreds of people turned out for the event which saw Britain’s Got Talent stars Ella Shaw and Wayne Woodward perform ahead of a fireworks display.

Trisha Mannion, 18, from Accrington, said events like the switch-on should be happening more often.

She said: “It’s an event that always draws in a big crowd and it did again this year.

“Events like that don’t happen in Accrington that much and I think they are a positive thing.

“I think it draws people in from all over and I really enjoyed the entertainment.”

Also on stage was X Factor auditionee Jamie Hutchinson.

Shops in the Arndale Centre stayed open late during the evening and the ballroom in the town hall played host to a Christmas craft market.

Father Christmas also put in an appearance with a grotto inside the town hall and there was plenty of street food about to get stuck into.

Chloe Aspin from Accrington said: “It was a great event for the kids and it puts the town on the map.”

Charlotte Johns, 24, said: “I thought the little rides for the kids were really good.

“It created a great atmosphere and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

The town has even more events planned for the festive season with the Dickensian Christmas Market planned for Thursday, December 8.

Warner Street will have musicians, street entertainers and fire eaters lined-up and there will also be Victorian-style fairground rides.

Cllr Clare Cleary said: “Our traders and town centre businesses always pull out the stops to give Accrington a real festive buzz at Christmas, and this year it was no different.”