CHRISTMAS celebrations in Colne have been dimmed after it was revealed that many of the town's festive lights are broken.

Only half the major decorations that went up last year are in a fit state to be installed again.

Rope lighting has been put on street lighting columns in Albert Road and Market Street and today Pendle Council's street lighting engineer, Jacqueline Walsh, said the remaining decorations will go up on Monday, weather permitting.

But only half of last year's 28 main displays are in working condition. Many of the 40-year-old decorations are worn out and have not been replaced because of a shortage of cash.

"We bought five or six new decorations last year and they will be included in the 13 or so that will go up next week," she said.

Fears over whether street lighting columns in the town were safe enough to hold the heavy decorations led to a long-running political row between Pendle Liberals and the Labour-controlled county council.

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