EVERY December, the country’s biggest supermarkets battle it out for the title of best festive advert.

And in the melee of Paddington Bears and monsters under the bed is a grandmother from Whitefield.

Laura Lomax, aged 74, is appearing before the nation in a Christmas cracker hat and holding aloft a large carving knife.

The grandmother-of-five is just one of the many faces appearing in this year’s Tesco Christmas advert.

She said: “It was exciting to do it all, it was smashing! I felt like a bit of a star for the day.

“I got to go down to London and there was a car waiting which took me to a hotel. I was a bit gobsmacked and it was a little bit of a scary experience as I’ve never done anything like that before.

“At the dress fitting I had a cardigan on from Bury Market. They liked it and it’s the one I’m wearing in the advert! I like telling people it’s from Bury Market.

“I’m quite happy to have been asked. Seeing yourself a telly is a funny feeling.”

A retired cashier who lives off Bury New Road, Mrs Lomax was picked for the advert after joining the Mint Casting agency and went down to London to film her part.

Since it first hit the small screen, her appearance has entertained family and friends, but nationally the advert has proved controversial with some viewers criticising Tesco for featuring a Muslim family in the Everyone’s Welcome campaign.

However, Mrs Lomax has dismissed the critics.

She said: “I don’t think it’s a controversial advert. I was surprised at the reaction as it’s not a problem for me whatsoever.“You don’t have to be Christian to celebrate the day, people can just celebrate getting together with family.”