Christmas lights switch-on in Skegness to move to a Saturday

In the past the switch-on and parade were held on a Friday evening, however over the years fewer shops stayed open to support it

However, at the meeting of Skegness Town Council, town clerk Steve Larner sought approval from councillors for the event to be moved to a Saturday afternoon at 4pm.

The move follows meetings between the Town Council, carnival committee, SUDS councillors and Steve Andrews, manager of the Hildreds Centre where the swtich-on takes place.

They are planning to put on a bigger and better full weekend of events, to include the switch on and market as well as other entertainment.

Mayor Coun Mark Dannatt commented: "This has been a long time coming - around 40 years.

"Families get home in winter and tend to stay in when it dark and cold. When they are in town anyway on a Saturday afternoon, they are more likely to stay out."

The move was also supported by Coun Susan Blackburn. She commented: "I'm in favour of this because it has been too late to keep children out in the cold waiting for the switch-on at 7.30pm on a Friday evening."