The magical moment Sunderland schoolgirl Chloe Gray switched on the Christmas lights in Pallion alongside panto star

It was lights, camera, action as nine-year-old Chloe Gray kicked off the Christmas season in style by turning on the festive lights.

The youngster was cheered on by hundreds in the crowd, and helped in pressing the special button by Jon Moses, who is playing Prince Charming in the Sunderland Empire’s pantomime Cinderella.

The event is organised by Pallion Action Group, in partnership with Pallion Traders and the Parker Trust.

And it was in full festive swing with a visit from Santa Claus in his sleigh, live music and a nativity performance to boot.

Karen Wood, Pallion Action Group manager, said: “It was amazing – it's the most heartwarming community event that I do. All of the community get involved, and they’ve been hard at it, working together.”

Helen Colquhoun, who also helps with the event’s organisation, added: “This is one of the nicest community light switch-ons you’ll see.”

Friday’s celebrations came two years on from Chloe turning on Pallion’s lights in 2017 as her family campaigned to find a much-needed stem cell match for the schoolgirl, who has a rare disorder meaning her body does not produce red blood cells.

After a match was found, Chloe is expected to undergo her life-saving transplant in the New Year.

The nine-year-old is currently spending some time in hospital with the flu, but was let out especially to attend the switch-on.

Prince Charming Jon rode alongside Chloe in Santa’s sleigh – and afterwards spoke of meeting the inspirational schoolgirl.

He told the Echo: “She's got an energy about her and a life about her and she was just really endearing. In some sort of way, she’s a little fairytale in herself.

“The fairytale ending will hopefully be that she gets her transplant next year – I’m hoping that’s going to be the happy ending for her and her family so that she can come and turn the lights on again like the Cinderella princess she wants to be.”

*Sunderland Empire’s Cinderella launches on Friday, December 13 and runs until Sunday, January 5.