WHEN Blackpool Promenade bursts into life with its world-famous illuminations on September 3, it will be an extra-special occasion - the lights' 125th anniversary.

The famous Lancashire resort which has been visited by generations of Boltonians is marking its special birthday with a better-than-ever display.

But the origins of what has become a huge North-west tourism magnet are even more amazing, as the first illuminations were held using eight Siemens Arc Lamps - 12 months before Thomas Edison patented the electric light bulb.

It was September, 1879, when a switched-on Victorian mayor came up with an idea he hoped would fill the town with visitors.

The concept of a lights show made sense to Blackpool, which was the first town in the UK to boast its own electric street lights - a pioneering spirit commemorated by a lightning bolt in the resort's coat of arms.

The council of the day spent £3,500 on the latest lighting technology for the first illuminations, the arc lamps shining so brightly that it was hailed at the time as "artificial sunshine".

Combined with fireworks and a carnival atmosphere, the dazzling display attracted 100,000 visitors who filled every hotel and lodging house for miles.

The event has gone from strength to strength ever since. In 1936, for example, 900,000 visitors were attracted to the town on 1,753 trains organised especially for the occasion.

And the illuminations not only attract visitors from all over the country and from neighbouring towns such as Bolton.

Former US President Bill Clinton has visited Blackpool Illuminations, as has Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey. And every UK Prime Minister since the Second World War has been to the resort to admire the thousands of bulbs making up giant shapes and patterns.

The annual event costs £2.4 million to stage with more than £250,000 spent each year on new features.

But they more than offset the cost, bringing in more than 3.5 million visitors and £275 million in just nine weeks.

The switch-on itself is a major event. The first switch-on celebrity was Lord Derby, who did the honours by telegraph in 1934.

Busty American screen siren Jayne Mansfield switched on the illuminations in 1959, and the then mayor referred to her as "Jean".

Dr Who actor Tom Baker stayed out of his Tardis long enough to perform the opening ceremony in 1975, and Red Rum switched on the Lights in 1977 by crossing the finishing line and triggering a photo electric cell.

Coronation Street cast members have switched on the illuminations three times, and the Bee Gees did the honours in 1995, with Barry Gibb celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary in Blackpool the same week.

This year, there is a distinct local connection when Bolton DJ Mark Radcliffe is on stage with record-breaking boy band McFly, who include Bolton singer Danny Jones among their number.

The illuminations have become a world-wide attraction, sold to Jeddah, Libya and Zimbabwe. And a Middle Eastern businessman once tried to buy the entire lights display.

Abseilers are deployed to install lights on Blackpool Tower, which has 10,000 bulbs on its four legs.

And the famous tower is also celebrating a landmark this year - it is 110 years old. The Grade 1 listed building was opened on Whit Monday, May 14, 1894.

Twenty years later, the tower went to war, recruited as a centre for submarine spotting. In the Second World War, it became a radar base.

These days, it is a haven of entertainment - and visitors can see for up to 70 miles from its crow's nest.

On September 3, it will be a central, brilliant point when six miles of the Promenade shine out once more - every night for 66 nights.

See the view from the top of the Tower via this webcam link from the BBC