IT may only be October, but Christmas lights are already decorating the streets of Pershore.

The town council has spent thousands of pounds carrying out health and safety checks over the past two years so it can put up its display of festive lights.

Until the surveys were finished some types of lights could not be put up last year, sparking a protest march through the town organised by campaigner Trudy Burge.

Yesterday Coleford in the Forest of Dean received national media attention when it was revealed its Christmas lights were already up. But Ann Dobbins, the clerk at Pershore Town Council, said she did not believe the town lights had been put up much earlier than usual.

Mrs Burge, who campaigned for the return of the town’s old-fashioned Christmas lights said: “Fair play, we have some of the lights back but I won’t be happy until we get more.”

She is disappointed there will be a small gap in the High Street decorations.

Mrs Burge refused to rule out another protest march until she had seen how good the lights were.

Pershore Town Council began to put up the lights in the High Street on Tuesday. They will be switched on on November 21, by the Carnival and Plum Fair princesses.