PARALYMPICS star Tanni Grey-Thompson came to the rescue when the weather threatened a celebrity Christmas lights switch-on.
Astronomer Patrick Moore had been due to launch the decorations at the Gateshead MetroCentre last night.
However, he had to cancel because of floods near his home in Selsey, Sussex.
Tanni, 31, of Redcar, who won four gold medals in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres wheelchair races in Sydney, agreed to take his place.
A MetroCentre spokeswoman said: "She saved the day at the last minute. Unfortunately Patrick Moore lives in Sussex, where they have had the worst storms, and couldn't make it.
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