RESIDENTS have been reassured Alcester's Christmas lights will not be affected permanently - despite new health and safety regulations.

The town's usual array of festive lighting will not be strung across the streets this year because of the new rules.

But Rory Duff, chairman of the Alcester Bunting and Lighting Executive (ABLE), said the lights would still be up and although they could not be put across the streets, they would be restored to their former glory for future years.

"The future of the lights is very secure, they will still be up this year and we are going to continue to operate as a small committee of volunteers on the lights," he said.

"It is simply because there are a new set of regulations concerning lighting in public streets, and we want to make sure that we meet these."

Mr Duff said they needed a period of time, probably in the spring and summer months next year, to make sure they were up to the right standards.

He said they had also already put more permanent lights on the Town Hall, so they would only need to be switched on and off at the right times, rather than putting them up and taking them down every year.

Mr Duff added: "There have been no problems in previous years but we do not want to put up the Christmas lights until we have ensured their safety according to the new regulations."