Investing in festive celebrations

Loughborough will be shining brightly at Christmas thanks to new £100,000 festive lights being installed by Charnwood Borough Council.

The new decorations are part of the Council’s continued investment in the town centre and events to attract people to Loughborough and make it a great place to visit.

Around 35 new light installations will be unveiled at the big Christmas lights switch-on event on Sunday, November 25.

Cllr Jenny Bokor, lead member for Loughborough, said: “I can’t wait until the new lights are up and casting their festive warmth over the town centre.

“Every year thousands of people pack Market Place to see the lights being switched on and I am sure they will appreciate our new collection.

“While Christmas for many is about family time and fun, it is also a crucial time for our town centres and the businesses in them.

“That’s why it’s important we continue to invest in the town centre and help create an inviting place that people want to spend time in, for both the retail and leisure experience.”

The Council has appointed Lancashire-based LITE Ltd  to provide its new festive lights.

The new lights will include:

• two four-metre high giant bells weighing 100kg each in Market Place
• projectors which will cast images on to the front of Loughborough Town Hall
• a 60-metre light curtain to hang above Church Gate
• three four-meter high 3D chandeliers in Bedford Square

New lighting will be placed in Market Street, Market Place, Cattle Market, Town Hall, Devonshire Square, Wards End, Bedford Square, Town Hall passage, Biggin Street, Church Gate andWarners Lane

The LED lights will be on display from November 25 until January 7, shining brightly for a total of 567 hours. They will have a total wattage of over 10,400 watts.

On November 25, there will be a host of festive fun in the town centre between 1pm and 5pm for the lights switch-on.

During the day there will be a charity market and a continental market as well as arts and crafts, fairground rides and a Santa’s grotto in Carillon Court.