TRADERS in Horwich are furious that plans to extend the Christmas lights display in the town have been knocked back.

Despite funds being available from Horwich Town Council and the Chamber of Trade to improve on last year's scheme, Bolton Council's engineering department have said they don't have the manpower to erect any extra lighting.

The Chamber of Trade have been collecting cash to fund the extra lighting, particularly for Winter Hey Lane, and have raised about £2,000.

Mr Cyril Eaton, who runs a card shop at Lee Lane, said Bolton Council had known for two years that the Chamber of Trade was raising cash for extra lighting and should have planned for it earlier in the year.

He said: "We're all absolutely livid. It's just not acceptable. Last year the excuse was that they had to fit new earths and now it is lack of manpower. Has the Council not heard of casual labour? They are the sole appointed erectors of lighting, it's not as though we can call in someone else to do it."

Horwich Town Council has written to the Chamber of Trade suggesting that any finance available could be spent on providing Christmas features on their own individual shop fronts but Mr Eaton said this was not possible, even if they could buy products at this late stage.

"The money was collected for street lighting, not individual shop lights. We also have a commitment to the people in Winter Hey Lane who have given money. We cannot spend it on anything else," said Mr Eaton.

The town council will also be writing to the street lighting officer to see if it can replace some of the older features with new ones within the limits of the scheme, and will also be asking the Civic Affairs Sub-Committee for a contribution towards Christmas lighting.

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