Extravaganza kicks off culture year

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Former Beatle Ringo Starr led the celebrations in his home city, Liverpool - crowned European Capital of Culture 2008 - before a crowd estimated at around 50,000.

As part of a show lasting 40 minutes, Starr performed his new single Liverpool 8 from the top of the city's landmark the neo-classical St George's Hall.

He was joined by "the stars of Liverpool" who arrived on stage in a shipping container, symbolising Liverpool's port heritage, lifted by a construction crane, an emblem of the recent regeneration of the city.

Among those Liverpool-born celebrities taking part were comedian Ken Dodd, The Royle Family's Sue Johnston and Geoffrey Hughes, from Coronation Street and Keeping Up Appearances whose arrival was accompanied by music from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

The show heralds the start of 12 months of music, art and cultural events expected to boost tourism and generate around £100m for the North West regional economy.