Police were called in to help with crowd control as Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis switched on Ilkley’s Christmas lights.

The 22-year-old actor, who played Neville Longbottom in the popular children’s films, admitted to being hesitant to step in at short notice to fill the shoes of the late Sir Jimmy Savile.

But the former Menston St Mary’s School pupil attracted a big crowd of his own fans to The Grove on Saturday afternoon – and was twice forced to take refuge in a room at Christchurch as a mob of young fans got into the building.

Organiser of the switch-on, local retailer David Giddings, said he had to call police to control the fans surging into the building, and Matthew eventually had to be driven away from the venue in a police van.

His appearance had been publicised on a fan website dedicated to Mr Lewis, and fans armed with camera phones quickly put pictures online of the celebrity making his appearance, via a microblogging website. Matthew led the crowd, which included many families with young children, in three cheers for Sir Jimmy.

Sir Jimmy, who died last month, had been booked to do the Ilkley lights switch-on for the third time.

“I was just so amazed by the vitality he had, even his 80s,” Matthew told the families and teenage fans gathered on The Grove.

“He did so much for so many people, I know he would have loved to be here.”

Matthew previously switched on Ilkley’s Christmas lights in 2004.

Another special guest on the steps in front of Christchurch this year was Ilkley girl Alice Stothart. Alice was diagnosed with a cancer of the eye in May, and as well as losing one of her eyes, has had to undergo chemotherapy and laser therapy.

Her family hope to raise awareness of the importance of checking their child’s eye health.

The build-up to the lights switch-on began with Christmas carols played by Guiseley Brass Band, festive songs from Ilkley’s Performance Drama Group, and the crowd was addressed by Christchurch minister Rob Hilton, and Ilkley Parish Council chairman, Heathcliffe Bowen.

A parade of children, led by Father Christmas aboard a horse-drawn carriage, made its way from Springs Lane to The Grove Addingham’s Christmas lights will be switched on tomorrow night. Second World War veteran George Kettlewell will help Addingham’s gala queen switch on the lights at Sugar Hill, off Main Street, at 6.30pm.