SLIDESHOW: Stunning hits from stage and screen

By the time the Tenors Of Rock, James Edgar and local Fylde’s Got Talent winners had warmed up the audience, they were more than ready for what was to come.

Stars Michael Ball, Lesley Garrett - making a return, after headlining the first Lytham Proms five years ago, Kerry Ellis and Rhydian Roberts shared favourite songs, with a selection of Les Miserables hits proving hugely popular with crowds before the interval.

Prior to that, the 6,000 strong audience had enjoyed renditions of Rain On My Parade by Ball, and Some Enchanted Evening by Garrett.

Champagne corks were popping all around the green, as Promenaders celebrated the event’s biggest year to date - and its fifth anniversary.

As Ellis belted the superb Defying Gravity, from hit musical Wicked, the rain started to pour, and a brief break was called as the Halle’s 80-strong orchestra dashed to protect millions of pounds worth of instruments.

But from then on in it was plain sailing, with Ball marking his 30th anniversary in music by dazzling with Gethsemene, from Jesus Christ Superstar, and Love Changes Everything, from Aspects Of Love - songs he dedicated to having changed his life.

Garrett rejoined him to lead us to the fireworks finale, with Land Of Hope And Glory, Rule Britannia, and Jerusalem raising the clouds over a sea of Union Flags, fluttering briskly in the night skies.