Famous resort lights switched on

Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson marked the event

The famous Blackpool illuminations are once again lighting up the resort.

The lights were officially switched on on Friday night by the presenters of BBC Two's Top Gear.

The switch-on coincided with a free concert - including performances from Scouting for Girls and Boyzone - and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.

One of the designs was created by Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen, whose Art Deco-inspired Venus Reborn design forms part of the light show.

Another design, called localHeads, uses photographic portraits of local people in a Pop Art style.

Shrewsbury-based artist Andy McKeown, who is behind localHeads, said he wanted to celebrate the "essence of Blackpool".

Cyclists were given a sneak-preview of the lights this week, when they were allowed to travel down the traffic-free promenade for free between Starr Gate and Red Bank Road.

The illuminations can be seen in the resort until the switch-off on 2 November.

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