A village’s Christmas lights display has been saved after the parish council agreed to step in and pay for it.

There were fears Wooburn Green may not have festive lights and a Christmas tree around The Green after Wooburn Residents Association (WRA) admitted it could not raise any money to cover the costs this year because of the pandemic.

WRA has, for many years, raised the cash to cover regular maintenance of the lights display and organised a Christmas tree for the last two years.

But because the coronavirus outbreak took the country into lockdown, no fundraising events, such as the annual summer fete, have been held.

Between 2016 and 2019, WRA spent nearly £5,000 a year on providing the Christmas lights and the tree for residents to enjoy.

Maggi Fraser, from WRA, pleaded with Wooburn and Bourne End Parish Council to take on the costs of maintaining and replacing the lights and the tree in return for continuing the admin and advertising side.

Parish councillors debated the idea of taking on the financial responsibility at a virtual full council meeting on Tuesday, September 22.

Simon Coles, also from the residents’ association, said: “If there were no Christmas lights it would be a particularly sad thing in a particularly sad year.”

Cllr Nigel Dibbo said he had had a number of residents say it was a “joy” to see the Christmas lights twinkling on their way to and from work every day and supported the idea of the council taking on responsibility to make sure they can continue.

Cllr Jane Ford added that it would be “terrible” if village had no Christmas lights, especially because of the coronavirus situation this year – but she suggested the council should look at only taking it on this year instead of permanently.

However, all councillors voted in favour of funding the Christmas lights instead of the WRA and to set up a steering committee to oversee the process.