Man of Steel to turn on Christmas lights

The Christmas lights event is due to include a firework display

A rugby league star will switch on Hull's Christmas lights, organisers have announced.

Mikey Lewis, the Hull KR and England half-back, was named Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel – the sport's player of the year – last month.

He will lead the celebrations in Queen Victoria Square later, when a 50ft-tall (15m) Norwegian spruce tree will be lit up.

Hull City Council said the event would include light and sound installations and was expected to attract a "fantastic crowd".

Hull-born Lewis scored 19 tries for the Robins last season, helping them reach their first Super League Grand Final.

Mikey Lewis is the first Hull KR player to win the Man of Steel award since 1986

When does it start?

The entertainment will get under way at 17:30 GMT. The Christmas lights will be switched on at 18:45 by Lewis, the Lord Mayor of Hull and Father Christmas.

There will be "a host of live performers from State of the Arts Academy", a local performing arts group, the council said.

Kofi Smiles and Carla Greene, BBC Radio Humberside presenters, will join host DJ Darren Lethem on the balcony of Hull City Hall.

A firework display is also expected to take place, weather permitting.

Where to park

A park and ride service will be operating between Priory Park, in Henry Boot Way, and the city centre, with buses scheduled to run every 20 minutes between 18:20 and 21:00.

Parking will be free and there will be "a discounted £1 return fare when purchased at the site", the council said.

The event will be the first of several on Hull's festive calendar.

Christmas markets will be held in the city centre every weekend from 23 November until 21 December.

The Lord Mayor’s annual Christmas Tree Festival will be staged at Hull Minster between 3 December and 21 December.

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