Community join together for Middleton lights switch on

Reporter: Laura Wild
Date online: 20 November 2011

The Middleton Community came together on Sunday afternoon for the town’s Christmas lights switch on.

Headline group NVS were joined on stage by Mario Falcone – from hit show The Only Way is Essex –and the stars of Middleton Arena’s Aladdin.

The crowds were also entertained throughout the afternoon by Middleton Popstars Academy.

The acts were joined by the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Alan Godson and the face of Middleton Phoebe Crossley, for the big lights switch on.

The crowd counted down and as the lights came on snow machines covered the crowd with fake flakes.

Mayor Godson, said: “The switch on show was really good. It is really good for Middleton, anything that brings people in is good for Middleton and they all seem to be enjoying themselves.”

Howard Gibbons, Middleton Shopping Centre Manager, one of the event’s organisers, said he thought the day went “really well.”

He added: “It was great to have a celebrity. It has been really good. There has been a nice partnership between Town Centre Management, ourselves and the local authority.”