SCROOGE has been banished from Leigh this Christmas.

For the first time in eight years the town centre is to get Christmas lights. Thanks to a joint effort by Leigh & Wigan Business Partnerships, the dark corners of Queen Street, Bradshawgate, Railway Road and Market Street will be lit up.

A budget of around £10,000 has been raised by the groups who were determined to make Leigh shine during the festive season.

John Ayres, Town Centres Manager for the Coalfield Challenge, said: "We have come up with £4,900 to help establish Christmas lights in Leigh town centre by the end of November. Lights will be put up on buildings in key town centre areas.

"The total investment in Christmas lights and trees will be around £10,000. We believe the developing partnership between Town Centres Management and Leigh Borough Partnership will put Leigh on a traditional festive map this year."

Work started on Monday morning in erecting the lights which, for this year, will be strung along building fronts rather than across the street.

Voice of the traders Gordon Jackson commented: "We have made a good start and are hoping to make an impact by making Leigh attractive to visitors.

"We have bought 2,000 metres of coloured Christmas lights this year and we are putting them up in Queen Street and as far down Bradshawgate as The Globe pub.

"We will then run lights down Railway Road and Market Street.

"Sainsbury's have also offered £3,000 which means we can now have illuminated Father Christmases plus reindeer and sleds to tour the town."

"Next year we are hoping they will be across the streets which isn't possible this year because there are no anchor brackets and street lamps haven't been adapted to take the extra power needed.

"I am delighted we are working so closely with Town Centres Management on making Leigh look half-decent this year."

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