CORONATION Street star Antony Cotton – who plays popular character Sean Tully in the long-running soap – is to switch-on Keighley's Christmas lights.

He will help push the plunger to illuminate the town's displays as part of a day of free family activities, on Sunday, November 26.

A wide range of attractions is being staged around the town centre.

Cbeebies fans will be able to meet Bing and Flop, who will be in the Airedale Shopping Centre's Mall Cafe area at various times between 10.30am and 2.30pm.

A Pulse 1 and 2 roadshow will be in action at Bow Street, near the former central post office, from 2.30pm.

Locally-based performers will take to the stage, and games and competitions will be held.

A Santa's grotto is being set-up near Beales, in College Walk, which will also raise money for Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice Manorlands – the Airedale Shopping Centre's chosen charity this year.

Donations can be dropped into a wishing well too, at an animated display in the centre's College Way.

The actual switch-on of the lights, which will also feature Santa and town mayor Councillor Mohammed Nazam, takes place at 4.30pm.

It will be followed by a fireworks display and snow cannon.

Both the Airedale Shopping Centre and Keighley Business Improvement District (BID) are spearheading events.

Centre manager, Steve Seymour, said: "The Christmas lights switch-on is always a big event for Keighley and is this year even more exciting with the appearance of special guest Antony Cotton.

"We also can't wait to welcome our other well-known visitors, Bing and Flop, who will be meeting their little Bingsters."

BID manager, Paul Howard, said the event promised to be a great day out for families.

"This is a great time of year for families and residents to come together in Keighley town centre and enjoy what is sure to be another fantastic event in our calendar," he added.

"We will be launching our latest 'Keighley Independents' campaign on the Monday following the lights switch-on, when £1,500 in shopping vouchers will be up for grabs."

The switch-on also launches upcoming late-night shopping in the centre, which will stay open until 7.30pm each Thursday from November 30 and between December 18 and 23.

Free parking will be on offer after 4pm on the late-night Thursdays and on Saturdays throughout next month.

Manorlands will receive additional funds from a gift-wrapping service, which is running in the centre every Thursday from November 30 to December 21 – between 4pm and 6.30pm – and weekends from December 2 to Christmas Eve.

Mr Seymour added that retailers were also gearing up for Black Friday, on November 24.

For more details about the lights switch-on and Black Friday, visit airedaleshoppingcentre.co.uk.

Further information about the Keighley Independents initiative can be found at discoverkeighley.co.uk or search for Discover Keighley on Facebook.