HUNDREDS of people turned up to watch Ilkley's Christmas Lights switch on by Sir Jimmy Savile at the weekend.

As he mounted the steps of the platform Sir Jimmy tried to deny he was the real thing by saying: "I'm not really here - I'm only a look-alike."

But when he uttered his famous catch-phrase 'Now then, now then', the cheers from the delighted onlookers showed they knew they had not been fobbed off with a fake.

Sir Jimmy seemed genuinely surprised at the size of the crowd: "I have never seen so many people in this beautiful town of Ilkley - anyone would think it was Giro day," he said.

Then he shared his memories of his humble beginnings in Yorkshire and his rise to fame and fortune.

"For a Yorkshire person to be asked to do something like this in Yorkshire is the ultimate honour without a shadow of a doubt.

"When I came to Ilkley as a youth without a penny in my pocket, if I had dreamed I would later be asked to come here and perform this ceremony I could have been accused of suffering from hallucinations - for me this is a most amazing evening, and Ilkley is a very special place."

Sir Jimmy said that the last time he switched on lights was at the seaside resort of Morcambe where the day turned into disaster.

"It blew up and the whole of Morcambe was plunged into darkness. It was 55 minutes before the lights came back up," he said.

The star was clearly moved by the reception he got. He said: "If I had a 'Fix-it' for me, I would like to have a big suitcase because then I could put you all in it and take you all with me for the rest of my life.

"We should invite the rest of the world to come and see how to have fun like we do in Ilkley."

After a count of five-four-three-two-one with the crowd, Sir Jimmy switched on the lights to an enormous cheer. He then followed it up by lighting his own trademark massive cigar.

David Giddings, the spokesman for the Ilkley Festivities Committee, said he was thrilled at the turnout of the event and the whole festivities day itself, including the parade with Father Christmas and Ilkley's new Town Crier.

Mr Giddings said: "It was really super, I have never seen The Grove so packed with people in all my life - Jimmy Savile really fixed it for Ilkley this year."

Following the lights switch-on, Sir Jimmy went into Christchurch where he greeted everyone present before the floodgates burst and people thronged through the doors in search of photographs and autographs.

For Mr Giddings, the successful event was the outcome of two years' hard work on the committee with the chairman, Lexa Robinson, and the other members.

Mr Giddings singled out parish Clerk Miggy Bailey and parish councillor Kate Brown for their hard work in helping to organise the event. "They do a lot of work for this town and do so much work behind the scenes and sometimes it is not appreciated," said Mr Giddings.

Councillor Robinson said: "As chairman of the Festivities committee, I would like to thank the traders, business people and everyone else in Ilkley for giving such generous donations.

"I would also like to thank all the hard-working members of the committee who organised the event. We had such a wonderful turnout and it was such a super day."

Mr Giddings said: "I hope it will be just as good next year."