THE Lightning Seeds and Scouting for Girls will headline an open air concert that will follow this year’s spectacular Christmas lights switch on, it can be revealed.

The line up will also include Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro and The Lancashire Hotpots as organisers seek to draw thousands from across St Helens and the north west to Victoria Square from 4pm on Saturday, November 15.

St Helens Council leader Barrie Grunewald said: “This year’s light switch on will be the hottest ticket in town and best of all it’s completely free.

“What better way to launch the festivities than with a fabulous music event.”

Town centre traders are hoping for an influx of visitors. Ali Tyrer, owner of the Bridge Street department store, said: “The lights switch on is always good for business but this year certainly promises to be something special.

“Hopefully this event will generate plenty of town centre trade.”

Bars and Melody, another Britain’s Got Talent act, who reached the top five with their debut single will also be performing at the switch on.

The Lightning Seeds, who will be headlining the evening concert, have had 12 top 20 UK hits including ‘Pure’, ‘Change’, ‘Sugar Coated Iceberg’, ‘You Showed Me’ and the unforgettable 1996 football anthem ‘Three Lions’.

Scouting for Girls also boasts a number of top ten hits including ‘She’s So Lovely’, ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ and ‘This Ain’t a Love Song’.

The Hummingbirds are an acoustic folk and blues band from Liverpool and form part of the musical line-up.

The Christmas events programme continues on Saturday, November 22 when a festive band and the giant penguin family come to town.

Thomas the Tank Engine is due to roll into St Helens on Saturday, November 29 while the following Saturday (December 6) sees the Santa Dash organised by the Steve Prescott Foundation with Willowbrook Hospice.

Tyrers will be opening their Christmas grotto from Saturday November 22 until Monday, December 22.