AN old school entertainer, newly-installed bishop and some fresh-faced entertainers turned on the smiles at two rain-lashed Yuletide specials in East Lancashire.

Hundreds came out to support the Christmas lights switch-on nights in Colne and Rawtenstall, with whole days of festive fun staged, even if the weather was less than kind.

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Coronation Street and Phoenix Nights star Ted Robbins was the perfect candidate to keep the show on the road when technical difficulties slightly delayed the Rawtenstall ceremony.

“The last time I was up here for this length of time was at the Manchester Arena, with Peter Kay, and we all know what happened then,” joked Ted, who is currently appearing in the Granada soap after battling back from a major heart scare.

Rock band Reload, the warm-up act before Ted flicked the switch with Mayor of Rossendale, Cllr Marilyn Procter, also proved to be troopers, switching from an electric to an acoustic set as rain swamped the town square.

Supported by the cast of Bacup Royal Court Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast, and Water Band for carols later Ted paid tribute to the ‘community spirit’ of the valley, as resident of nearby Crawshawbooth for 25 years.

Hardy Lancastrians also defied the swirling showers in Colne, shortly afterwards, with a torchlight procession, led by Mayor of Pendle Cllr Nawaz Ahmed and his mayoress wife Azmat, and Father Christmas, courtesy of Colne Noyna Rotary.

Santa Claus, with his little ‘elves’ from Pendle Council, ensured Albert Road’s lights were triggered en-route, and the Mayor led hundreds to Colne Parish Church for a short service, led by the Rev Lisa Senior.

Bishop of Burnley, the Right Rev Philip North, reminded a packed house that Jesus is ‘the light that never goes out’, even beyond Christmas, as Away In A Manger and Hark The Herald Angels Sing resounded around St Bartholomew’s.

Six visitors from Pendle’s twin town, Marl, Folker and Marget Behrens, Manfred and Briggitte Vorholt, Hedi Mengert and Birgit Voight, manned continental market stalls, offering German sausage, cakes and mulled wine, as part of a complementary day-long food festival.

“This is their gift to the people of Colne,” said Rodney Rostron, of Pendle Twinning Association who hosted the visitors.

Later attention switched to the Market Precinct as Helen Green’s dancers kept the crowd’s spirits up, accompanied by carols led by Pendle Youth Orchestra.

All that remained was for the Mayor to illuminate the town centre’s festive lights, and for a rousing fireworks display to round off the celebrations.