A COMMUNITY has banded together to create a ‘Do It Yourself’ Christmas after the council ran out of cash to light up the festive period.

Residents and businesses in Rishton have pledged to bring back the seasonal sparkle to its streets with their own ‘power to the people’ project.

Until 2013, Hyndburn Council provided 20 trees with lights for the town, but then scrapped the practice.

Instead it planted two smaller permanent trees holding just a few small decorations to cut costs.

Now businessman Nick Haywood, 57, who has lived in Rishton for 25 years, has got together with fellow residents Elaine Williamson and Craig Brasnell to reinstate a proper Christmas light display on 52 trees.

Their initiative has 250 members on Facebook and has raised more than £3,000 to put on a full festive display.

The volunteers are also launching a Christmas market with more than 25 stalls, a Santa’s grotto and raffle.

Fund-raising events have been organised at The Roebuck, Station and Walmsley Arms pubs.

Driver trainer Mr Haywood said it was a shame the council couldn’t afford to pay for the lights.

He said: “We wanted to take it back into our own hands and three of us got together in a pub and decided to change this.”

Borough leader Miles Parkinson said: “I’m delighted to see the Rishton community take on providing the lights themselves so the festivities still occur.

“I would encourage other towns to do the same as austerity means this could happen elsewhere.

“The council will still provide limited festivities for each township but it’s really good to see the community in Rishton get together and create their own ‘Do It Yourself’ Christmas.

“In tough times for councils this is positive step forward.”

The initiative follows Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre having to boost last year’s Christmas lights switch-on in the town.

Blackburn’s lights, traditionally paid for the borough, is now a joint initiative between the council and the town’s Business Improvement District.

Oswaldtwistle Tory councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “It’s great to see Rishton taking action to mount its own ‘Do It Yourself’ Christmas.

“The Civic had to help out with Oswaldtwistle last year but this is a step up in the community providing seasonal sparkle.

“I warned Cllr Parkinson when he cut area funding last year that his Scrooge-like attitude would come back to haunt our townships at Christmas.”

Mr Haywood said: “We really have a community backed project here.

“We wanted to raise money to put on our own lights switch-on and keep the town decorated and lit up at Christmas.

“We have raised enough money to buy 52 trees and lots of lights. That shows the people of the town want the lights back on.

“This is a very ‘power to the people’ project.”

It will also provide brackets for each business on the road to hang up the trees in High Street.

Mr Haywood thanked local councillors for their support but added:”We aren’t working for or with Hyndburn Council.

“All the money has been raised by us and has come from the community.”

Rishton Labour councillor Ken Moss said: “I can’t wait to see the town looking bright and sparkly again at Christmas time.

“We helped the group by buying them collection tubs and ran a couple of promotion events, but apart from that they are an entirely independent group of dedicated volunteers that are doing something worthwhile.”

The Christmas market will open at 5.30pm on Friday December 4 with the lights switched on at 6.30pm.

Nisa shop manager Abdul Khan said: “It is a good for the town to put the lights up again, “The children will enjoy it and it will bring back some festive cheer to Rishton.

Walmsley Arms landlady Hayley O’Donnell said: “We all want to support the town and bring back these Christmas lights.

“I’m so excited to see them up again.

“It will bring people to the town and everyone will benefit from it.”

Ellison Printers owner Jane Caunce said: “It is absolutely fabulous.

“Rishton has missed something at Christmas since the lights went away and this has brought everyone together.”