FORGET tacky Christmas lights - let's have tasteful illuminations that last through the winter.

That was the idea suggested by the Greens at Cabinet this week as councillors discussed this season's festive light displays across the district.

The Christmas lights that currently go up in Morecambe and Lancaster have been criticised as "tacky" by Cllr Gina Dowding, who said she would like to see more energy efficient lightbulbs used to create a "Winter Lights" display.

She said the lights could be kept going for a few weeks after Christmas to brighten the winter months.

She was supported in her comments by Cllr Carolyn Simpson, the Liberal Democrat representative on the Cabinet. But Conservative James Airey said he was "sorry about their political correctness" and that his group would "do all they can to preserve the Christmas lights."

The Cabinet agreed that this year's lighting scheme should go ahead as proposed - with a £20,000 allocation to Lancaster and Morecambe on a 50-50 basis, a £2,000 allocation to Heysham, and grants for Carnforth (£2,000) Torrisholme (£450) and Bare (£450)

However, they would look at any report Cllr Dowding produced for next year.

Afterwards Cllr Dowding explained: "They should be made more artistic and tasteful. That could be done by using artists to design them and involving and consulting local people, such as the shopkeepers in my Castle ward, on what they would like to see. Perhaps projected lights could be used. Also, if the lights were renamed 'Winter Lights' they could be kept on through January and February to brighten up the winter months and attract tourists."