The festive season was officially opened in Moray over the weekend – with a little help from a celebrity soap star.
The annual Buckie Christmas Kracker event on Saturday night was given added sparkle as Coronation Street’s Kirk Sutherland, played by Andy Whyment, switched on the Christmas lights and transformed the town into a winter wonderland.
The actor then whisked away lucky raffle ticket winner, Jan Paterson, for a trolley dash around Tesco, before returning to give his own rendition of Lou Reed’s Ride Sally Ride.
More than 2,500 people took delight in the entertainment, which included Christmas fireworks, a winter wonderland with reindeer and a donkey, live music, a fairground, a snow globe, and a land train.
Mrs Paterson, a community psychiatric nurse from Deskford, said she was not even going to go to the raffle draw until her children convinced her otherwise.
The 48-year-old said: “I was really lucky, and fair chuffed. I thought, ‘I won’t bother going back because I won’t win.’ Then it was the kids who said, ‘Come on. Let’s go.’ It’s a good job I did.
“Kirk had the timer, and he gave me two minutes. You look back after and think you could have done this or should have done that, but when they said ‘Go’ I just went blank.
“I went straight for the meat counter. I got a huge, extra-large, 9.5kg turkey. Then, after that I couldn’t think of everything else. I ended up with £213.16. It was great.”
Leanne Grant, Buckie Christmas Kracker and Christmas Lights Committee secretary, said: “It was brilliant. We have had positive feedback already.
“Andy Whyment was a perfect gentleman. We were so lucky to have him. He switched on the lights at 5pm, then wandered around speaking to folk for two hours. Then, he sang on stage with the Current Affair. It was a great atmosphere.”
Elgin also celebrated the switching on of its Christmas lights, with a special guest appearance by Santa and a Christmas concert featuring a host of local bands and groups.
A spokeswoman for Elgin Bid said: “Thanks to all those who came down for the event. We hope you enjoyed yourselves.”