COST-CUTTING Christmas lights in Frodsham will shine brighter than ever this year with a new energy-saving display glowing throughout the community’s seasonal celebrations.

The town council expects to slash the annual electricity bill for the popular light show –previously around £5,000 – after replacing 2,400 almost obsolete incandescent bulbs with LEDs that will reduce energy consumption from 53,000 to just 1,200 watts.

The council set aside £20,000 in this year’s budget to fund the new lights and project leader Cllr Linda Brown said: “I’m delighted with the installation but, until I’ve got final figures and the electricity bill in January, I won’t know the final costings.”

The popular ‘candy cane’ lights running up street lamps in Main Street have been retained and, for the first time, three trees in Church Street will also be illuminated.

All the lights will be left in place so they can be used as event lighting throughout the year, which Cllr Brown said will also save about £7,500 on annual installation, removal and storage costs.

The lights and community Christmas tree will be switched on in Main Street at 6.30pm next Friday, November 30, followed by a fireworks display, during Frodsham Christmas Festival. Festivities start earlier this year with a Christmas food and craft market in Main Street opening at 2pm.

Food will be available all day, with live music at the back of the Queen’s Head pub and jazz musicians will perform outside Les Harris jewellers in Main Street from 6pm.

Street entertainers, a funfair and local school choirs and dance groups will entertain thousands of residents and visitors expected to flock to Frodsham to see Santa and his reindeer parade along Main Street at 7pm – and from 3-9pm he will also be greeting children in his grotto at Frodsham Leisure Centre car park.

St Laurence’s Parish Church will also be holding a Christmas fair at the Parish Hall in Church Street from 3-8pm, with proceeds to the church building fund and Halton Haven, and carol singing by Main Street Community Church will start at 5.30pm.

A Christmas craft marquee will open at Lady Heyes Park and Antiques Centre in Kingsley Road on Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2, where local schoolchildren will also be carol singing.

A host of festive events are being staged by community groups throughout November, December and into the New Year, and full details are available in the Christmas in Frodsham leaflet available from shops and other outlets throughout the town.