Try your luck to turn on Hartlepool's Christmas lights with Coronation Street star Samia

Hartlepool Council is giving one person the honour of making the town twinkle with the actress, better known as the street’s Maria Connor, in a festive lottery.

Lottery tickets, priced at £1, are on sale now and first prize also includes a meet and greet with the star for four people and £100.

Second and third prizes also include a meet and greet for four people plus £75 and £50 respectfully.

There are also twenty-five runners up prizes of a Meet and Greet for two people.

This year the lights, sponsored by Niramax Total Waste Solutions, will be switched on at the National Museum of the Royal Navy on Friday, December 2, at 6pm.

All of the money raised from the draw will go the Mayor of Hartlepool’s two chosen charities –the Great North Air Ambulance and the cancer charity Bloodwise.

Councillor Rob Cook, the Mayor of Hartlepool, said: “The Grand Christmas Lottery is a great idea as it gives local people the opportunity to meet soap opera favourite Samia Ghadie and raise money for two very worthy causes.

“Tickets are priced at just £1 and can also be purchased online, and it would be great if people can support my two chosen charities for the year.”

Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.hartlepool.gov.uk/grand-christmas-lottery. They are also available from the Civic Centre; Hartlepool Art Gallery and Information Centre, Brierton Sports Centre and Headland Sports Hall.