A SPARKLING show of festive fun is on the cards this Christmas, says Petersfield Town Council after agreeing to spend more than £23,000 on new town centre lighting.

The council selects a contractor to put up the Christmas lights for three years at a time, and has just chosen a new one, The Festive Lighting Company from Wellington in Somerset.

The company won the contract to supply Christmas lighting in Petersfield until after December 2019 ahead of four other lighting companies which bid for the contract.

Council spokesman Steve Field said: “This year’s lights in the town centre are going to be completely different to those of the last three years, as we have a new lighting contractor.

“As well as the traditional light strings across High Street and other streets, Christmas trees with lights in the flag pole holders on town centre buildings, and additional lighting on the buildings, and even across the High Street, is being looked at.

“The only two light displays that will be the same will be the one in Dragon Street, and the Merry Christmas Petersfield display across the High Street.

“I can’t say what the designs are, as it would spoil the surprise, but they will be brand new, and with some added glamour.”

The Festive Lighting Company representative for the South East is well respected in Petersfield for his knowledge of the town’s Christmas lights.

Mr Field explained: “Vernon Peake has been involved with putting up the Christmas lights for many years, firstly with the Chamber of Commerce, then with a marketing company which took it on and also with the town council.”

This year the lighting bill is £23,427, and then for the next two Christmases it will be £18,785 a year, totalling £70,000 over the length of the contract.

Mr Field added: “The first year is always the most expensive as contractors have the set up and design costs.

“During the three years, they do everything – store them, set them up, take them down, and maintain them once they are switched on.”

The company specialises in working with local authorities. It is now supplying more than 200 towns and cities throughout the country with designing, manufacturing and installing display lighting systems.

One of the firm’s other new contracts is with Glasgow City Council. To see its work, visit its website at: www.festivelighting.co.uk