Christmas festivities kick off across region (From The Northern Echo)

Christmas festivities kick off across region

8:38am Monday 23rd November 2009

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HUNDREDS of people braved the cold last night to see Christmas lights switched on across the region.

In Durham, the event in the city’s market place was attended by Coronation Street stars Michael le Vell and Vicky Binns, who play Kevin Webster and Molly Dodds in the long-running soap, as well as X Factor finalists Bad Lashes and panto star Pee Wee Price.

They were also joined by Shaun Foster-Conley, the club singer who shot to unexpected fame on the TV comedy Benidorm.

Live entertainment, held from lunchtime onwards, included choirs, a brass band, the arrival of Santa and fireeaters.

There were performances by Bad Lashes and Mr Foster-Conley before the lights switch-on by the Corrie stars, who were bowled over by Durham City.

Mr le Vell said: “It is a beautiful place. I cannot believe I have never been to Durham before. I will definitely be coming again.

Ms Binns said: “I used to come to visit Durham regularly when my friend was at the university here, so I know it through student eyes.

“It is such a grand and beautiful place, you forget how wonderful it is.”

The event, attended by Durham Mayor Councillor Dennis Southwell and Durham County Council chairman Councillor Brian Myers, was organised by Marketing Durham.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Durham’s annual duck race fell foul of the weather after concerns were raised about the height of the River Wear.

Organisers announced they would have to cancel the event after the river rose by 2ft overnight. The event has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 6.

In Darlington, TFM presenter Wayne Allen compered proceedings, which involved an afternoon of entertainment, including performances by Darlington Locomotion Boys Choir and dance routines choreographed by Strictly Dance Fever winner Darrien Wright.

Also entertaining the crowds were singer-songwriter Hayley McKay, and Harrowgate Hill Primary School Choir, who won the Carol for Darlington competition last year. Audiences were then treated to a surprise appearance by Santa, before former X Factor contestant Chico, accompanied by fellow Darlington Civic Panto stars The Grumbleweeds, switched on the lights to a finale of fireworks and fake snow.

Jenny Chapman, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “The Christmas lights event was a fabulous event with lots packed into the afternoon.”

Festivities got under way in Sunderland with an annual Christmas parade.

Santa and his reindeers led the parade through the city.

He was joined by characters from the Sunderland Empire’s pantomine, Peter Pan, alongside pirate stilt walkers, Christmas characters and a brass band.

Visitors were later able to feed Santa’s reindeers and have fun in the children’s play area, complete with real snow.

There was also a trail of metre-high Peter Pan-inspired ice sculptures, scattered in various locations around the city.

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