Journey South, who finished third in ITV's X-Factor in 2005, joined Bridlington mayor Ray Allerston and two big cats -– Hull City mascot Roary the Tiger and Bridlington Town mascot Leon the Lion -– in switching on the town centre lights on Sunday.

They also played a 20-minute set for the crowd of around 3,000 who turned up to watch the big switch-on in King Street.

Although not all the lights were in place by Sunday evening, the display still impressed the band, who are originally from Middlesbrough, and who enjoyed the treatment they received during their visit to Bridlington.

Singer Andy Pemberton said: "We have done a lot of Christmas lights switch-ons, and this has been the best yet.

"We have had a fantastic reception, and the lights have been the best we've seen as well – there has been some where you haven't even noticed they have been switched on.

"We were picked up in a limo and given a police escort – we have really felt like stars today."

His bandmate and brother Carl Pemberton said: "The set was good crack. We played some new songs, and a couple that people already knew, and one Christmas effort that we had just practiced backstage - hence why it was really bad.

"It was a one-off, we won't play it again. We just wanted to play a Christmas song."

Journey South were one of a number of bands who played throughout the afternoon and evening in the build-up to the big switch on, with salsa band Mambo Jambo preceding them onstage.

Town council clerk Chris Smith said: "Journey South went down well and sold a lot of copies of the new album on the day.

"They went back to the new Casino bar, and signed every copy of the album that people either brought along or bought on the day.

"The boys were brilliant and stayed for over an hour to sign autographs and meet fans."

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