10:33am Monday 27th November 2006
By Paul Keaveny
THOUSANDS of people packed into Victoria Square in Bolton to see Dave Spikey officially start the festive season by switching on the town's Christmas lights.
Cheering spectators went wild as the comedian took to the stage on the steps of the town hall yesterday evening.
As the crowd helped count down from 10, Dave and the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Walter Hall, flicked the switch to cheers of delight. Fireworks then lit up the night sky.
Dave said: "I am really pleased and excited to have been asked to do this. It's a great honour. It's my home town, I love Bolton and I'm standing on the town hall steps turning on the Christmas lights. It doesn't get any better than this!"
The mayor added: "It's been a fantastic night and a really good turn out."
Dave then returned to the stage as his Phoenix Nights character Jerry Sinclair to sing a couple of his most popular tunes including Brim Full of Asha and Black Bin Bags.
He was later joined by Lofty the Lion and Tower FM's Paul Fairclough, who was presenting the whole show, for a Christmas sing-along of So Here It Is Merry Christmas and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day.
A traditional Christmas parade led by the Hoover Brass Band wound its way from Churchgate along Deansgate and Howell Croft North on to Victoria Square in time for the big switch-on. Parents and youngsters lined the streets and waved as six giant snowmen and Father Christmas in his sleigh passed by.
The fun started earlier in Victoria Square at 3pm when the Hoover Band gave a free concert.
Young actors from Activ8 performed a drama about three families' experiences of Christmas, while Bolton Wanderers players, the cast of the Albert Halls pantomime, Aladdin, Dawn Dawson's Academy of Dance and Stage, Bolton Children's Workshop and singing group NoHow Productions also kept the crowds entertained.
Once the show was over the parade was led back to Victoria Hall, for the evening finale where everyone was invited to enjoy free music, festive food and Christmas craft activities.
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