TWO thousand people braved a cold Valleys night yesterday to watch Coronation Street star Sam Aston get the festive season under way in Brynmawr at the Christmas lights switch-on.

Mr Aston, who plays Chesney Brown, was driven along Beaufort Street to the Market Square in an open-top car. Father Christmas also joined in the festivities, having arrived on a sleigh. The event, now in its 15th year, was organised by Brynmawr Town Partnership. As well as the switch-on, there was a fair and a fireworks display.

Partnership chairman Wayne Hodgins said: “The event was made possible through fundraising efforts and donations from local businesses and the town council. We wanted to give the people of Blaenau Gwent a lift after all that the borough has gone through in the last 12 months.” He said it took a lot of planning, in conjunction with the local authority, “but we picked up the gauntlet in Januaryto hold the annual festive celebration”.