Roll up for the greatest free light show on earth

WE'VE a bright idea for a fun family trip this half term holiday in the print version of the BEN.

The all singing, all dancing Blackpool Illuminations offer a great night out and the best news is that they are FREE.

And if you take up our great reader offer and combine a visit to the "lights" with fun on the Blackpool Pleasure Beach you're sure to be a big hit with the kids.

The famous illuminations run until November 5 and feature a six mile display of 500,000 bulbs.

There are hundreds of displays and tableaux including the new Swan Lake tableau, opening up a spectacular curtain of light on to a stunning display of dancing cygnets.

You'll see pigs bopping 70s style around a mirrored ball and space and the seaside are the themes of a fantastic laser display. Devils and angels make up a new heaven and hell feature and a colour-changing fountain fantasia add to the old favourites of Coronation Street, slugs, bugs and dot-to-dot displays.

The BEN has got a great offer for readers to help make your trip to the seaside a memorable one. Buy one book of blockbuster ride tickets at a price of £35 and get another book absolutely FREE.

We've also got free tickets for the famous Hot Ice show. There's free kids' admission with every full paying adult.

So there's no excuse for staying at home this half term. Just cut out the appropriate coupons and get along to Blackpool.

Blackpool Illuminations run nightly until Sunday November 5 and there's a special one-off weekend showing from November 10 to November 12 inclusive. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is open every day, and evening, until November 5.

And we've another great family offer for BEN readers. Kids can take an adult for a free day out at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds during the October break.

For every full-paying CHILD admitted to the museum one ADULT will gain free entry. That's a saving of £4.90 on each adult ticket. The offer runs from Saturday October 21 up to, and including, Sunday October 29.

The museum's theme for the week will be the navy and pirates and a whole host of seafaring activities have been lined up for adults and children.

On "pirate island', complete with palm trees, a crow's nest, hammocks and a costume box filled with pirate gear, the children can take part in knot tying, playing deck quoits and hoisting the Jolly Roger.

It's a great day out for all the family and easily accessible from Bolton.