Worcester's Christmas lights will sparkle as usual, the council has vowed after reports that a Suffolk council is ditching decorations to avoid offending non-Christians.

Worcester's lights are this week being tested in preparation for the annual decorations that will light up the city centre and the Victorian Fayre at the end of the month.

It was revealed at the weekend revealed that Waveney Council in Suffolk plans to scrap grants for its lights - although residents plan to raise cash themselves - because celebrating Christmas does not fit its "core values of equality and diversity".

However, Worcester City Council reassured Worcester News readers it was fully in favour of annual Christmas decorations and had never considered scrapping them.

Georgia Smith, city centre manager, said: "The issue has never been questioned or raised and the city council supports them because they make Worcester a more attractive place to live, visit and shop."

Worcester's lights are being put up over the next week and are being officially switched on Thursday, November 17.

Last week, Lambeth Council, in south London, referred to its Christmas decorations as winter lights and Birmingham Council has called the celebrations 'Winterval' to avoid causing offence.