A LEGEND of the TV soap Coronation Street kept his fans waiting in the cold as Barrow waited for the traditional events surrounding the switching on of the town centre Christmas lights back in 1992.

This year's switch-on is on Saturday at 6.15pm outside the Forum, on Duke Street.

Acts are due to include organiser Denis Horan, South Lakes Rock School, the cast of the Barrow panto Aladdin, Parkside GGI Academy Choir and Tiffany Southward.

The Mail, on Saturday, December 5 in 1992, noted: "Coronation Street celebrity Jack Duckworth was the star of the Late Late Christmas Lights Show when he arrived more than two hours late for last night's festive switch-on in Barrow town town centre.

"Actor Bill Tarmey was held up when filming schedules for the soap opera were thrown into disarray by Thursday's Manchester bombings.

"When Jacko finally arrived at the gazebo in Dalton Road at 8.15pm most of the town centre shops had closed and thousands of fans had gone home disappointed.

"Nevertheless, several hundred fans who had waited patiently gave the Coronation Street star a warm welcome.

"He was greeted with a kiss by mayor Cllr Joyce Fleet and then apologised to the waiting fans with: 'Sorry I'm late'.

"Earlier, the honour of switching on the lights went to schoolboy Leslie McLeese, 12, of Melbourne Street and Cllr Fleet's grandchildren Penny, nine and Gill, eight."

In an interview with The Mail, the 52-year-old actor said he had been a regular on the TV show for 14 years and his last visit to Barrow had been as a builder.

He said: "I was only 18 years old.

"I spent two weeks in Barrow working on a roofing job somewhere in the docks.

"All I did was whinge because I wanted to get back home to my girlfriend in Manchester, so I never saw much of Barrow."

He was sad to arrived too late to see the Barrow Christmas lights being switched on.

Mr Tarmey said: "I was really disappointed.

"I knew people would be there and that they would be cold.

"And I realise people with young children couldn't keep on waiting. I really am sorry."

The girlfriend - Alma - he was so concerned about on his first visit to Barrow as a teenager later became his wife.

Mr Tarmey died, aged 71, in November  2012.