AFTER being criticised over the years for its dismal Christmas lights display, Bishop Auckland has been praised by professionals for its effort last year.

Traders and organisations clubbed together to raise the £11,000 cost of lighting up the town centre in an attempt to attract shoppers and boost business.

Now Turnocks, which supplies Christmas lights across the UK, has given the town a full-page spread in its brochure about recent work carried out in partnership with councils and corporate customers.

The photographs show the display of lights in Newgate Street.

Derek Toon, the Bishop Auckland town centre manager set up the scheme and raised sponsorship for the lights in his first few weeks in the job.

He said: "Since I only took up the post in September last year, it was a rush to get the funding together, but the businesses in the town, the Town Centre Forum, CE Electric and Wear Valley District Council all responded magnificently and I was able to raise more than £11,000 towards the cost of the lights.

"The suppliers, Turnocks, also responded quickly and patiently to my repeated requests for more lights every time I was able to raise some sponsorship money."

Mr Toon hopes to extend the display next Christmas. He said: "Time and money constraints meant that only Newgate Street and Fore Bondgate were lit. The Market Place had to be left out of the scheme.

"My intention is to light the Market Place this year, but it will not be cheap. I am looking at a display for just one of the buildings and this could cost more than £6,000 to buy and erect. More sponsorship will be needed."