TOWNS in County Durham will have their traditional Christmas lights after all, following a change of heart by a council.

Spennymoor and Ferryhill, which usually have impressive seasonal displays, had been told by Durham County Council that their lamp-posts were not strong enough to support the decorations.

As a result, the towns were set to be left in the dark this year.

However, the council has now said the light columns will be replaced

A county council spokesman said: "We have ordered replacement lamp-posts for Ferryhill and Spennymoor.

"If we were replacing like for like we would bear the full cost, but in this case they've got to be strong enough to hold the decorations.

"So the two town councils have agreed to make a contribution towards higher specification lampposts."

He said: "This shows we are not the Scrooges we have been made out to be - and may we be the first to wish the people of both Spennymoor and Ferryhill a happy Christmas."

In Spennymoor, the town council has given £10,000 towards the replacement of 34 of the 46 lampposts it uses for its Christmas decorations.

It is hoped they will be in place by the end of November, when an official switching on of the lights is expected.

Town council leader, Councillor Bill Waters, said the council is relieved to have the issue resolved.

He said: "We were absolutely gutted when we found out we couldn't have the Christmas lights.

"They have been an attraction for people, not only from Spennymoor but also the surrounding towns."

Ferryhill Town Council is contributing £3,400 towards the cost of replacing 16 lamp-posts.

Executive officer Jamie Corrigan said: "It's excellent news and the town council is very pleased that, as a result of the campaign to continue the lights, the county council has been able to accommodate us."

Ferryhill is trying to raise about £15,000 to replace its Christmas lights in time for next year and is the subject of the Mayor's charity fund

FILM stars will add to the sparkle of a town's Christmas lights.

Jamie Bell, of Billy Elliott fame, and Bobby Power, star of There's Only One Jimmy Grimble, will be the guests of honour at the switching on ceremony in Stockton, on November 26.

With the help of Councillor Pete Andrew, the town's mayor, they will launch an afternoon of family fun, leading up to the big light-up at 5.30pm.

Included in the attractions will be three roadshows, as well as the chance to pick up skills from Simon Clifford, president of the International Confederation of Futeball de Salao.

There will be stalls, rides and a visit from Santa Claus, who will make a spectacular entrance at about 5.15pm.

To round off the festivities, a fireworks display will light up the skies at about 6pm