A POP star's late arrival failed to dampen people's spirits during a town's Christmas lights switch on event.

Around 2000 people were stood out in the cold on Darwen's market square waiting for Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle at around 6pm today, when she was due to perform.

However the event's headliner did not take to the stage until 6.30pm, which delayed the switch on and fireworks finale by 30 minutes.

Despite the Irish singer's late arrival the switch on received a 'good turnout' with some visitors describing it as a 'great night'.

Lancashire Telegraph:

On stage the 33-year-old, from Derry, performed a 20-minute set, which included well known Girls Aloud tracks such as Sound of the Underground and Call the Shots.

However, in keeping with the festive spirit, the final song the pop star performed was a Christmas number, Santa is Coming to Town.

After her set finished Ms Coyle said on stage: "Thank you all for coming out tonight and making good memories together. I have had a brilliant time with you.

"The whole town coming out together is a beautiful sight to see. This place reminds me of Derry except we do not have that nice market area."

The Girls Aloud vocalist, who will be celebrating Christmas in Ireland this year, stayed on stage to switch on the lights with Rock FM presenters Steve and Janine Marsh, along with Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Cllr Pat McFall, Mayoress Lucie Higham and Santa Claus.

Following the switch on a giant Christmas tree lit up in the market square as fireworks were set off and the crowd was showered in snow from a machine used on stage.

The event, which ran from 4.30pm to 7pm, also included performances from Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Ella Shaw, from Langho, and music artist Mr Zip, who also auditioned on the ITV show.

Most visitors said they enjoyed the event. Dad-of-two Graham Lockett, 38, from Darwen, said: "I love it.

"It's where the Christmas countdown starts and it's always a fantastic event.

"It's good to see everyone from Darwen come together to kick off the festive period."

Heather Cardwell, 33, who has visited the Christmas lights switch on in Darwen for more than 10 years, said: "It was really good.

"The event got to show the good people of Darwen and the community spirit that's here."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's development manager Clare Turner, who helped with the running of the event, said: "It was a great night and Nadine was really good. She signed and met with people at the end of her show and I thought the performance was great."

However other people said they were 'disappointed' with the switch on event, which was set in a smaller space compared to previous years due to the ongoing £1.5million market square refurbishment.

Sammy Bourke, 25, from Darwen said: "I did not think it was as good as last year.

"The fireworks were not as good and the headliner was delayed in her arrival."

A 55-year-old grandmother, also from Darwen, said: "It was disappointing.

"The atmosphere, the quality of the show and the lack of events for the children.

"A number of people I spoke to at the end of the show said it was extremely disappointing compared to last year."