AN X FACTOR star will switch on a town’s Christmas lights on Wednesday, December 4.

Guisborough teenager Abi Alton, who was voted off the show last month, will switch on the lights in Hartlepool.

The ceremony is the first one in Hartlepool for a number of years and will take place at 6pm in Church Square beside the town’s Christmas tree.

The switch-on will mark the start of four days of festive fun as Church Square hosts Hartlepool’s first ever Christmas market.

Hartlepool mayor, Coun Stephen Akers-Belcher said: “I’m really looking forward to welcoming Abi to Hartlepool.

“I’m sure this will be a sparkling evening full of festive cheer and together with our first-ever Christmas market it will make a wonderful start to the run-up to Christmas.”