A NORTH-EAST market town has attracted one of the biggest names in the country to turn on its Christmas lights.

Middleton-in-Teesdale, in County Durham, which has a population of about 1,500 people, will have the heir to the throne switching on its lights this year.

Prince Charles will be in the village on Friday, December 10, to visit the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (Utass).

Utass is a service that provides information and advice to the rural communities of Teesdale.

It provided a lifeline for many farmers during the foot-and-mouth crisis, prompting Prince Charles to pay it a visit in October 2002.

Next week, Charles will meet young people and volunteers at Utass and open Kirk Caryn House, an addition to the Utass buildings that contains a youth drop-in centre and offices.

Diane Spark, Utass project manager, said: "Since his last visit, he's been in fairly regular contact and been very good to us, and so when we asked if he might like to open Kirk Caryn House he agreed.

"We're absolutely delighted and really looking forward to the visit. How many other small communities can say they have had this?"

As part of his visit, Charles will switch on the town's Christmas lights.

The event will incorporate a farmers' market, a steam traction engine driving an organ and children's roundabout, and music and carols from Middleton-in-Teesdale Silver Band and local schoolchildren.

One of the Christmas lights volunteers said: "We are obviously very excited about Prince Charles wanting to switch on the lights.

"Although in one way it is a bit of a comedown. We usually get the queen to do it - the carnival queen, that is."