THE boss of the company that organises Melksham's Christmas lights has pledged another fantastic display this year.

Paul Weymouth, managing director of Light Fantastic, says they are still on course for the big switch-on on December 7.

Work on putting up the wires and lights for this year's £7,000 display will begin this weekend.

Mr Weymouth said he and their "brilliant" group of ten volunteers will be working in the High Street and the Market Place area.

This year's team effort has not been without controversy as the group has had to overcome Wiltshire Council’s new festive lighting regulations.

This led to a disagreement with the council's highways contractor Atkins about being able to string lights across the High Street.

It led to a petition being launched, signed by more than 1,000 people, to protect Melksham's Christmas lights display.

Mr Weymouth said: "We challenged it pretty heavily and we have now got permission to put them across the streets.

"We will be using cherry pickers to put up the lights and there a couple of ageing columns that we can't use."

Melksham's Christmas lights display is traditionally regarded as one of the best in Wiltshire and Mr Weymouth is keen to maintain their reputation.

The volunteers will put up the strings between columns for the displays and connecting lights to above shops and to the town hall.

Mr Weymouth's company, Light Fantastic, will then check the work to make sure it complies with the Wiltshire Council regulations.

The annual display is funded through donations, grants and fund-raising events, such as the town's Bonfire Night fireworks display, which is taking place from 5pm on Friday at Melksham RFC's Oakfield Stadium.