Christmas lights saved

SEAFORD will sparkle this Christmas!

Last week town festive light plans were thrown into chaos after a blunder by the supplier resulted in the arrival of 800 bulbs with screw fittings Seaford needed bayonet bulbs.

And matters took a turn for the worse when it emerged it would have no bayonet bulbs until the new year.

Despite a year of intensive fundraising to pay for the illuminations, costing 12,500, it looked likely Seaford could be spending another Christmas in the dark. It had been without lights for two years as its old set did not meet new stricter safety standards.

Seaford Town Council clerk Len Fisher and Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club Christmas lights organiser Denis Sistrom were left with the task of finding replacement bulbs with less than two weeks to go before they were due to be switched on by the Mayor.

But a relieved Mr Fisher told the Express a local supplier had come to the rescue.

He said: 'An Eastbourne company has pulled out all the stops to get us the bulbs we need, now it is all systems go and I am feeling a lot more happier than I was this time last week.

Gangs of engineers attached wires across Broad Street in midweek and were due to attach the festive festoons today (Friday).

Seaford will be lit up with 1,400 white and red bulbs which will be draped in nine strips across Broad Street. These will be complimented with three illuminated snow flake arches and a sign reading Merry Christmas Seaford.

But the trials and tribulations of the last few weeks have not deterred Seaford festive lights dreams. Plans are already afoot to extend the lights to High Street and Church Street next year.