BUNGLING council workers have got Christmas off to a smashing start in Accrington.

Workers have strung up festive bulbs so low that every time lorries go down Warner Street they smash into them.

And local shop owners say it's the SECOND year running Hyndburn Council has made the blunder.

Heather Hodgkinson of Animal House said: "I told the workers the lights were too low and I even phoned the council but they've done nothing about it.

"A few lights have been smashed but if they don't fix it soon there'll be a lot more. You would have thought they would have learnt from last year's mistake."

Bev Wilkin from nearby Glory Hole said: "We all love the lights and have waited a long time to get them. The lights are so slack they don't stretch along the whole street."

Council officials said they will get it right before the lights are turned on on November 28 by a star celebrity - yet to be named.

David Allonby, of the council's operations department, said: "I will make sure our street light supervisor visits the site to look at the problem.

"We'll make sure the cable is tightened so that it clears any high-sided vehicles and any smashed bulbs will be replaced."

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