Knighton council and businesses save Christmas lights

Christmas has been saved in a town on the Shropshire and Powys border after business leaders and councillors chipped in to ensure Christmas lights and decorations will again be on show.

Knighton was due to have a Christmas without festive lights and decorations, after the rising costs left the town council unable to afford them.

But businesses and an anonymous councillor stumped up the money to ensure a festive feeling in the town this year.

Roger Bright, a former town mayor, said everyone in the town was delighted that the lights had been saved.

He said: "When businessman Gordon Calverley heard that Knighton would not be lit up as in other previous Christmas times, he contacted Councillor Ken Harris, Knighton Mayor to offer a substantial cheque towards the costs. When the mayor reported this to the town council, one of the councillors who does not wish to be named, promptly offered £200."

He added: "Councillor Trevor Johnson promised to visit numerous businesses in the town to see if he could obtain some match funding."

Councillor Bright said that more than £1,000 was raised.

"The result was that about £1,200 in total has been donated and Councillor Harris, on behalf of the town council and people of Knighton, expressed his sincere thanks to the business sector and encourages local people to use these businesses as much as possible during these difficult economic times," he said.