Olympic medallists to turn on Blackpool Illuminations

The lights will shine nightly until Sunday 4 November

Three of Team GB's Olympic medallists are to turn on Blackpool Illuminations.

Beth Tweddle, Greg Rutherford and Luke Campbell will flick the switch on Friday 31 August, in what is the centenary year of the famous lights.

Also at the switch-on party at the Tower Festival Headland will be musical acts including Little Mix, Amy Macdonald and Scouting for Girls.

The Illuminations, which cost £2.2m to stage, attract some three million visitors to the resort every year.

'Incredible people'

Last year's switch-on ceremony drew crowds of 20,000 watching on big screens on the resort's promenade.

Liverpool gymnast Tweddle, who won a bronze medal on the uneven bars, said: "It is going to be an amazing night and something special as I am a local North West girl."

Greg Rutherford became the first British athlete to win gold in the long-jump since 1964, while boxer Luke Campbell won gold in the bantamweight division.

Natalie Wyatt, from Marketing Blackpool, said: "We couldn't be more delighted to be welcoming such an incredible group of people to officially switch on the lights."

The lights will shine nightly until Sunday 4 November.