PERSHORE'S councillors have been forced to reconsider the placing and design of the town's Christmas lights this year.

The annual health and safety check on the fixing points for the lights found that they needed replacing and to do that the council would need Listed Building consent, which they have been told they would be unlikely to get. But even if building consent was given, the cost of upgrading the fixing points and the decorations would have been substantial.

Due to this fact, the town's Christmas lights will look different to how they have in previous years and ideas are still being sought as to how best to illuminate the town in December.

Pershore town clerk Ann Dobbins said: "Unfortunately, the fixing points failed the health and safety test and because of that there will be no lights across the streets this year.

"We will be dressing up Broad Street more than we have in the past with lights in trees and on lampposts. There will hopefully be some lights in St Andrew's Gardens as well.

"There will be different lights in different places this year but we hope they will be of a similar scale and standard to previous years.

"If anyone has any ideas as to how we can illuminate the town in future years we will be very glad to hear from them."

Anyone who feels they may be able to help can drop in to Pershore Town Hall on the High Street, or call the town clerk Ann Dobbins on 01386 561561.