Blackpool

Blackpool is a seaside town in the north west of England. It's famous for the 158m tower which looks like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, there's an aquarium, a circus and loads of tourist attractions but today I'm going to tell you about the Illuminations.

This spectacle started back in 1879 when lights illuminated the promenade in a display of 'artificial sunshine'. Now it has become a much more sophisticated event and one which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from the end of August until November - a total of 66 days.

So why are these lights so popular? It's because millions of lightbulbs are used to make pictures, spell messages and create a unique atmosphere all the way along the six mile promenade. It's simply amazing to see. Every year there is a ceremony to switch the lights on, usually performed by a pop group or popular celebrity at that time. Recent guests include Blue, Westlife and Take That, to give you some idea.

Now, here are some amazing facts about the Illuminations. Listen carefully.

Recently the lights have attracted around 3.5 million visitors. The lights create 45 permanent jobs all year round. It takes a whole year to prepare for the 66 day event. More than 200 miles of cables are used to light up the promenade. The display uses around 1 million lamps. The bill for the lights is usually around £50,000. However, the amount of money spent by the visitors to the town is more than £250 million - so the electricity bill is not so much if you think about it!