HALTWHISTLE Town Council has agreed to fork out more than £3,000 on this year’s Christmas lights.

For almost three decades, the festive illuminations on Main Street and Westgate have been organised by Haltwhistle Chamber of Trade.

But early this year, the chamber called on the town council for assistance, saying its volunteer members were getting too old to climb ladders to decorate the town with 900 colourful bulbs from the Jubilee pub to the Geordie Girl hair salon.

At its latest meeting, members backed a proposal by chairman, Coun. Alan Sharp, to pay an electrician £3,300 plus VAT to do the job.

Coun. Sharp explained: “The lights need to be put up, connected and then taken down and put back into storage.

”I have been looking at our budget and what we have left in contingencies. We could afford to pay for the putting up and taking down of the lights.

“They do benefit the town, and I personally feel it is up to the town council to support the chamber of trade.

“I think we should accept the estimate we have received and show our commitment to getting the work done.”

Over the years, the chamber of trade has financed the lighting display with fund-raising activities, donations from the public and support from the town council.

Both Coun. Kevin Little and Coun. Margaret Forrest suggested that collection pots around the town, in aid of the Christmas lights, should go to the town council instead of the chamber of trade.

Coun. Little said: “If those donations are for the Christmas lights, and we are footing the bill, that money should come to the town council.”

However, Coun. Sharp stressed that the chamber would still be responsible for the upkeep of light bulbs and associated equipment.