THREE lucky youngsters' lives were lit up when they helped the Mayor of Worcester switch on the city's Christmas lights.

Ben Smallman, aged nine, 14-year-old Jessica Hoskins, and Ryan Morris, who is six, helped the Mayor, Councillor David Clark turn on the festive fun in places including Reindeer Court, CrownGate, and the Hopmarket.

The youngsters won a competition in the Evening News to turn on this year's lights after playing spot the difference on pictures illustrating Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

They also won £25 shopping vouchers each, and a family ticket for the Swan Theatre.

The lights took an hour to switch on, and pupils from Manor Park School, St John's sang some Christmas songs outside St Richard's Hospice.