‘We need a festive boost!’

Marilyn Soper of household goods specialists Soper’s Bespoke, based in Wood Street, St Annes, bemoaned what she termed the gap between the festive lights switch-on in late November and Christmas itself.

And she said it was vital that the town looked to start putting on more Saturday events between those two periods so that more people come into the town during what is a vital period for stores.

“I am keen to see more Saturday events in the run-up to Christmas,” she told a meeting of the town’s Chamber of Trade.

“At the moment, we have the switch-on and then nothing.

“People living on the outskirts of St Annes are just as likely to go shopping in Lytham, Blackpool or Preston unless we attract them in and I am sure something could be done for free.”

Resident David Wood suggested a switch-on in St Annes Square of the crib traditionally situated at Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Church.

Chamber co-ordinator Arnold Sumner said the organisation would be keen to hear of any suggestions for future years on what entertainment could be brought to the town.

The lights switch on, preceded by a full afternoon of entertainment, was staged by St Annes Town Council and Lytham’s panto producers and attracted hundreds to The Square.