Break Preston's safe combination and get away with £10,000

A £10,000 reward will be locked away in a strongbox in Preston city centre ready to be snatched by anyone who can figure out the six-digit code.

The City Safe is the idea of Preston’s Business Improvement District (BID) and the Preston At Night group as part of the city’s sparkling build-up to Christmas.

“Preston has lots to offer for a great Christmas and the City Safe competition could make it even more special for one lucky winner,” said BID manager Mark Whittle.

Organisers are warning punters that the safe will only be in the city centre for one day - Saturday December 10. It will be on the Flag Market for just over 12 hours, from 11am to 11.30pm.

BID has just won a new five-year term to carry on its work attracting people into the city centre with a host of events, including the city’s Christmas lights, which this year will be switched on by an all-star line-up including M People singer Heather Small, the Real Thing, Joey Essex, Dave Finnegan’s Commitments and children’s favourite Mr Bloom on November 26.

The festive offering also includes a giant Christmas tree on the Flag Market and a series of Street Theatre Saturdays on Fishergate which will be launched on the same day as the big switch-on concert.

Leigh Sweetman, chair of the Preston At Night group, said: “Preston is an animated city throughout the year, but even more so at Christmas.

“We want people to come and enjoy what Preston has to offer on December 10 and hopefully walk away with a life-changing amount of money.”

Visitors to the Flag Market that day will be invited to have a go at cracking the code - and thus the safe. Anyone who inputs the correct six numbers will walk away with the cash windfall .

But on top of the £10,000 jackpot, there will be random prizes donated by city centre-based businesses through the afternoon and evening.

These will include shopping vouchers, restaurant vouchers and complimentary offers from bars and clubs.

BID’s Mark Whittle added: “We are inviting members of the public to come to Preston city centre, enter their chosen code and be lucky enough to scoop this amazing prize.

“The City Safe is in town for one day only. So we’re urging people to hot foot it to Preston on December 10 and try their luck.”