THE organisers of this year's Christmas lights switch-on in Hessle hope to have all the ingredients for an event to bring the community together.
Great British Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle will light up the town on Friday, November 28, in front of thousands of residents.
The baking queen hails from Hessle, which is where her two children live.
She said: "Whoever thought it? It's an honour to be asked to turn on the lights and I'm looking forward to it.
"It's all exciting.
"Hessle Square is beautiful and I'm sure it will look pretty with all the lights switched on."
The grandmother-of-eight wowed 13 million viewers with her showstopper windmill- shaped cake in the final of the hit TV show.
She said: "I used to be organised getting Christmas pres- ents, but now not so much.
"I'm always organised on the food side of things."
Since her victory in the competition, Nancy, who now lives in Barton, has been supporting charities Cash For Kids, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Lindsey Lodge Hospice in Lincolnshire.
Hull FC and Hull Stingrays players will also be there.
Hessle Town Councillor Phil Withers said: "It's great that Nancy is switching on the lights.
"Although she lives in Barton, she did used to live in Hessle."
Cllr Withers says the switch- on is a big event in the town's calendar and one that seems to attract more and more people each year.
"The Christmas light switch- on is a tradition in Hessle and the event gets a bigger occasion every year," he said.
"It's a night when all of Hessle gets together."
As well as the switch-on in the square at 6.30pm, visitors will be entertained by music from schoolchildren in the town.
Cllr Withers said: "It is a real social gathering, but it couldn't be done without the support of businesses in the area.
"To cap it all off, the Hessle Theatre Group will be putting on a show in the Town Hall after the switch-on.
"Everyone's pulling out all the stops and when the lights come on, Hessle will look picturesque.
"There will even be a snow machine at the switch-on."
It will be held on the same night as events in Hornsea, Withernsea and Hedon.
More than 100 trees will be lit up around Hedon, with the lights being switched on by Town Mayor John Dennis in the Market Place at 6.30pm.
In Withernsea, the switch-on will take place in Queen Street at 7pm, while in Hornsea, the lights will be switched on in Newbegin at 6.30pm.
Guide to switch-on• The event starts at 5pm. Father Christmas will be handing out sweets and Hull FC and Hull Stingray players will be among the crowd.
• Before the switch-on at 6.30pm, there will be performances from local schools. The big switch-on in Hessle Square will be conducted by Nancy Birtwhistle, who won this year's Great British Bake Off.
• Hessle Theatre Group is performing West End Wonderland at the Town Hall after the switch-on, from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10, with concessions £8.
• Roads around the Hessle Square area will be closed on Friday, November 28, from 4.20pm and will reopen at 7.30pm.
