Published: December 21, 2008
Highbridge lights up town's streets for Christmas

Highbridge has this week put the final finishing touches to its Christmas street lighting display, which this year sees the return of a controversial illuminated star on the town's clock.

Mike Murphy, Chairman of Highbridge's Chamber of Trade, told Burnham-On-Sea.com that over 30 lights and Christmas trees have been installed on buildings in the town centre to add a splash of festive colour.

"The bulk of the decorations are in Church Street and Market Street, but we've also brought back the refurbished 'Star of Highbridge' on the town clock, which will be a familiar sight to some long-standing residents," he said.

The star, pictured right, attracted national media attention in 1996 when it was the only festive light in the town due to council cut-backs. The Daily Mirror reported in December 1996: "Miserly council bosses have spent just £90 on one tatty Christmas decoration to light up a whole town."

Mr Murphy added: "The 2008 illuminations are certainly considerably better than they were then, thanks to several council grants."

Highbridge's Christmas lights this year received £2,400 of funding from the town, district and county councils.

"We're not aiming to compete with other towns, but we hope visitors and residents will enjoy the lights here this Christmas," he said.