ACTOR Michael Sheen will be switching on the town's Christmas lights in Ystradgynlais this Thursday evening.

The Port Talbot-born star is more normally used to the bright lights of Hollywood but will be returning home on November 24 for the Christmas event.

It is a major coup for the community and comes in the wake of the star taking a shine to the area while filming Tate Britain's Great British Walks with art historian Gus Casely-Hayford.

During the show they followed in the footsteps of painter Josef Herman, or "Joe Bach" as he was affectionately known, a Polish Jewish emigre who fled from Nazis in the 1940s and settled in Ystradgynlais.

Officials said he was so enamoured by the experience, he has now agreed to press the switch when Christmas celebrates get under way at 5pm in the town's Gorsedd Park.

The event will start on 5pm with mulled wine and mince pies on sale in the park.