BLACKPOOL'S seafront is set to shine brighter than ever before this autumn by premiering a stunning selection of innovative Illuminations to sit alongside family favourites.

And topping the bill will be ten sensational spotlights from the Millennium Dome itself.

Straight from shining hundreds of feet in the air across the London skyline, these silver "storm-troopers" from Italian manufacturers Coemar are set to sweep dramatically across the seafront at South Shore.

Blackpool Borough Council staff made a mad dash to the capital to snap up the new lights before they were all bought by the Swedish. And the lights have now been specially adapted by Illuminations staff to withstand the elements of a blustery Blackpool seafront.

Illuminations manager Richard Ryan said: "They are the Illumination's secret weapon and are all part of the council's desire to increase the interactivity of the Lights. These spotlights are intelligent fittings which can scan the sea, the beach, the prom, even the fronts of buildings and change colour when people walk past or even swivel to follow them, colour mix or strobe. The possibilities are endless."

Head of Tourism Jane Seddon said: "This is the first year of the 21st century and Blackpool have always been renowned for being innovative. We are proud to show lights which should play a very major part in the future of Blackpool Illuminations. Technology is advancing at a phenomenal rate and it's important that Blackpool should remain a leader in the electronics field."

New sponsors for 2001 are Holland's Pies who give a fabulous new meaning to light pastry on the Prom with a potted history of pies through the ages.

Pie-cycle on his Penny Farthing joins 20s Flapper pie, a wartime pie-lot, 60s hip-pie, a tasty 70s Jason King and looks to the future with space pieman, all delivered by the famous Holland's green van celebrating 150 years in the business.

And Christmas comes early this year as a Santa's grotto of snowflakes, stars and baubles cascade over Gynn Square in a section of seasonal splendour.

These lights will join with the town's traditional Christmas illuminations to rival any in the country.

Soaring 25 feet high and boasting the biggest lightbox ever made by Illumination technicians, the Jurassic-tastic dinosaur tableaux will rise above the cliffs in the North Shore.

And this year Illuminations technology has evolved even further with the sounds of cool jazz emanating from a giant billboard starring The Extincts -- a 'rock' group with a difference -- and more than a few fossils.