THE night sky around Blackburn town centre was lit up by an impressive display of fireworks last night.

The massive display was set off in the Cathedral grounds prior to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's 10th annual Christmas Carol Service.

And the button to start the cascades of colour was pressed by 11-year-old Nicola Jade Hacking, of Pelham Street, Blackburn, whose name was drawn out of a hat to perform the honour. Afterwards more than 1,000 people filled the Cathedral for the service conducted by the Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong.

The service included songs by the Cathedral choir, seasonal music by the Salvation Army and a reading by Nick Nunn, assistant editor of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

There were also plenty of traditional carols for the congregation to join in with and a short talk by the Dean.

He thanked Blackburn with Darwen Council, the town centre marketing committee and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for sponsoring the evening and Phillip Ainsworth, of Ainsworth The Jewellers, who helped organise the display and donated a Swatch watch and bag to Nicola.