What is claimed to be the world's largest mirrorball is lighting up Blackpool seafront.

Dancers performed underneath the disco glitterball on Thursday night, so it could be officially declared a record-breaker.

The revolving artwork, featuring 46,500 mirrors, is a permanent fixture on the resort's South Promenade.

It is officially called "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" after a 1960s film and is part of the Great Promenade Show, a public art display.

'New icon'

The glitterball beat a 2.4m-diameter mirrorball in a Los Angeles nightclub to the world record.

The ball was designed by artist Michael Trainor and commissioned by the Manchester-based Art Department.

It was made in Oldham, Greater Manchester, by an engineering firm.

'Mesmorising image'

Mr Trainor said: "Hopefully it will be seen as a new icon for Blackpool and the region, and is probably the shiniest artwork in the world.

"Every second of every day the mirrored facets give a different view of the environment - sea, sky, traffic, trams and promenaders all wrapped up in one mesmorising, moving image."

The glitterball was officially switched on by Baron Isherwood, the North West Development Agency Director of Regeneration.