A replacement is being sought for a town’s Christmas lights switch-on after the death of Sir Jimmy Savile.

The broadcasting legend, who died at the age of 84 at the weekend, had been due to switch on the lights in Ilkley for the third time.

Organisers were due to present him with a special certificate to mark the event, but are now having to redraw their plans for the annual celebrations.

Coun Brian Mann, of Ilkley Parish Council, who organises the lights, said he was still coming to terms with the death of a “good friend.”

He said: “We’re all very, very sorry to hear about his death. He was a good friend of Ilkley. Being a solid Yorkshireman, he always had a soft spot for Ilkley.

“It would have been his third time of switching on the Christmas lights. We were going to make it quite an event for him and would have presented him with a special certificate.

“This would have been the last time he switched them on, but I know he always enjoyed it and was looking forward to this year.

“Our attitude at the moment is one of sadness.”

Sir Jimmy first performed the big switch-on in Ilkley in 2001 and regaled an audience along The Grove with tales of his visits to “posh” Ilkley as a penniless Leeds youngster. He returned to turn on the Christmas lights again in 2005.

Coun Mann said he hoped there would be some big names happy to step into the breach and fill the gap left by Sir Jimmy.

Ilkley Christmas lights will be switched-on on Saturday, November 19.