BLACKBURN Rovers star Darragh Lenihan was the guest of honour at a hospital's light switch on.

Darragh joined staff, patients, friends and family for a festive afternoon at Royal Blackburn Hospital hosted by ELHT&Me, the hospital’s official charity.

The event, held on Monday, featured performances from Blackburn People’s Choir and Darwen Brass Band, and an appearance from Father Christmas courtesy of Blackburn Round Table.

Attendees enjoyed non-alcoholic mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies, and were able to browse stalls at the charity’s Christmas fayre, which will run in the entrance of the hospital until December 20, excluding weekends.

At 5pm, Darragh and the trust's director of communications and engagement, Christine Hughes, pressed the ‘big button’ and lit up the hospital’s Christmas tree, and the lights decorating the main entrance.

Before switching on the lights, Darragh also addressed the crowd, and said: “Thanks for welcoming me here tonight, I’d like to wish every one of you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

"ELHT&Me is a great cause and does an awful lot of good for the community, and I’m proud to be an ambassador from the club.”

The trust aims to make the switch on an annual event, bringing together the community and sharing some festive spirit.