THOUSANDS are expected to watch the Blackpool illuminations being turned on tonight.

Irish pop star Ronan Keating will flick the switch to light up more than a million lamps. He will be joined by fellow chart-toppers Darius and Sugababes for the annual event.

The illuminations, which first appeared on Blackpool's promenade in 1879, will light up the sea front every night until November 3.

Thousands of people are expected to make their way to Blackpool over the coming weeks. Tourism bosses claim the £2.4 million display, which stretches for more than six miles, is the town's brightest and boldest yet.

One of the new attractions is the Stratosphere, a 60ft tall and 50ft wide translucent ball, opposite the Pleasure Beach.

A hi-tech video system will project images, graphic colours and sound on to the dome so people can see a 360 degree show.

There will also be a Gaming Zone where visitors can play games such as Space Invaders and Pac Man on a giant video screen.