RETAILERS last night welcomed the news that Christmas was not cancelled in Darlington this year as the council announced it would fund festive lights in the town centre.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas the town centre will be turned into a winter wonderland again, after fears the demise of the town's Distinct Darlington company would mean no more Yuletide lights.

Earlier this year there was an agreement following budget discussions that funding would be withdrawn by Darlington Borough Council.

But now the levy of about £20,000 that the council's town centre sites, including the Dolphin Centre and the Crown Street Library, paid to Distinct Darlington will instead be channelled into the illuminations.

The annual switch-on event will go ahead in the Market Square on Thursday, November 23.

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