ONLY a handful of people assembled to mark the end of Happy Mount Park's famous illuminations on Sunday.

The lights were snuffed out for the final time signalling the end of a historic 50-year era in Morecambe.

The park's dinosaur exhibition Jurassic Park which has also closed, is now on its way to the BBC in London to take part in Children in Need.

It is understood that the number of visitors to the illuminations in its final year had been significantly down on previous summers.

Before the start of the illuminations' 16-week season, councillors announced they could no longer afford to foot the £50,000 bill needed to bring the lights up to scratch.

Speculation is still rife as to the future of Morecambe's popular park without the decorative lights which have attracted tourists from all over the country.

Charles Wilson, deputy town clerk, said they had no immediate plans for the park. "It is likely reports will go before committees within the next couple of months," he said.

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