TOWNS and villages in the region could be left in the dark this Christmas.

Tough rules imposed by Durham County Council mean anyone wanting to hang festive decorations on lampposts will have to apply for a safety permit six months in advance.

Ferryhill Town Council has been told its lampposts are not strong enough, meaning 80 per cent of its Christmas lights will not shine this year.

Executive officer Jamie Corrigan said: "We're very disappointed with the timing of this. It puts us in a position where there is no way we've got enough time to arrange for new columns or new lights.

"Ferryhill is noted for its Christmas lights."

Smaller councils and organisations are going to have their work cut out to gain a permit in time.

Shildon Town Council will have to fill in a form for each of the 107 lampposts on which it hangs decorations.

Ken Pritchard, clerk of Bishop Middleham Parish Council, said he does not know if his village is going to be left in the dark or not. He wrote to the county council in July asking if lampposts, owned by the parish council, needed to be checked, but has not received a reply.

The new rules follow a fatal accident in Gateshead five years ago when a lamppost collapsed.