SOUL diva Lisa Stansfield last night switched on the Christmas lights at the North-East's largest shopping centre.
The singer, whose hits include All Around the World, stopped off at the MetroCentre, in Gateshead, to perform the honours. It is the first year of a new scheme of decorations, which cost £250,000.
Lisa was helped by the MetroCentre's cuddly characters, the MetroGnomes.
Staff at the MetroCentre prepare for the challenge of decorating almost three miles of malls for Christmas about 12 months in advance.
The centre had completed a three-year contract and needed to consider a new scheme.
A MetroCentre spokesman said: "This involved looking at Christmas decoration projects throughout the country and talking to design companies in the autumn of 2003.
"Centre Design, from Prudhoe, who have decorated the centre since 1988, came up with the latest scheme.
"It involves the four colours of the malls at MetroCentre, a typical section showing a giant central Christmas ornament and sparkling Christmas spheres, reminiscent of the new art feature Look Out launched on the roof of Debenhams in October this year.
"There are wonderful exploding crackers at the end of each mall and down Central Mall."
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