THE cost of Ledbury's Christmas lights has been called "excessive" by a former town mayor.

But other councillors are hopeful that traders and the community will take the strain in the years ahead.

Each year, the display costs the town council over £10,000.

Looking ahead, Cllr Allen Conway said: "I cannot see the justification. That is an excessive amount of money, when we can still have Christmas."

But town trader and town councillor Annette Crowe, speaking at a meeting in the Market House last week said: "We are trying to raise money. People can buy Christmas wish cards to decorate the town tree and there are collection boxes about town.

"I think the town would be a sadder place, without the Christmas lights."

Cllr Martin Eager, chairing the meeting, agreed.

He said: "They do brighten up the town. They are a huge enhancement."

But he warned it was still early days to rely on community fund-raising for the lights.

He said: "At the moment we need to work on the premise that we, the town council, are the only ones funding them."

Cllr Tony Bradford said that more people were indeed getting involved with fund-raising, but also stressed the need to get more funding from local businesses and industry.

However, he added: "We took them on, and the lights need to stay on."

Ledbury's mayor, Cllr Bob Barnes said it was "encouraging" what was happening, in terms of the new fund-raising initiatives.

Whatever happens in the future, the lights will go on in Ledbury this Saturday, November 29, for the start of the festive season in town.

The switch will be thrown at 4.30pm, by LADS pantomime characters, including a bear, helped by the Carnival Princess, Amy Browning-Smith, aged ten.

This year's event will be medieval in theme, with medieval music, dance displays and even a stilt-walker.

Father Christmas will arrive at 1pm, courtesy of the Westons' dray, and his Grotto in the town council offices will open shortly afterwards.

Trigger the Land Train, one of the biggest attractions from last year, will arrive again to offer town centre rides, from 1.15pm.