IN PICTURES: Little Mix switch on Merry Hill Christmas lights 

Little Mix were on hand to give Merry Hill Shopping Centre\'s Christmas lights switch on the X Factor.

Litle Mix, Bars and Melody, and Sam and Mark turned on the Christmas lights

Thousands turned out to see the nation\'s favourite girl band make sure the festivities went with a bang.

The Salute singers were joined by a range of other performers including Britain\'s Got Talent runners-up and rap duo Bars & Melody .

The event was hosted by TV presenters and Free Radio\'s Sam and Mark, who hails from Darlaston, and the switch on took place on the centre\'s 25th birthday.

Shoppers huddled together in winter coats to see the traditional lights come to life as well as to catch a glimpse of the girls performing before they did the honours.

The girls performed three of their biggest hits Salute, Move and DNA, as well as an a capella version of their track Hey, How Ya Doin? as well as covers of several other chart hits.

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And when they hit the plunger the shopping centre lit up to the sounds of fireworks.

The lights will remain on throughout the festive period.

Perrie Edwards, lead singer of the band, said: "We always love the crowds here because they just love to get involved.

"We just wanted to go out there and get everybody excited and ready for Christmas with a bit of festive cheer."

This week, the centre was revealed to be the best shopping centre in the West Midlands in a poll by Trevor Wood associates, pipping its Brum rival the Bullring to the post.

The centre also came ninth nationally, with the Bullring coming 12th and Touchwood in Solihull only placing 41st.

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IN PICTURES: Little Mix switch on Merry Hill Christmas lights

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