Britain could be facing a bleak mid-winter as the cost of following health and safety rules is forcing councils to consider scrapping Christmas lights, business leaders have warned.
Stringent new regulations and increased insurance premiums have pushed the price of a modest festive display to as much as £25,000, and out of the reach of many town budgets.
Stephen Alambritis, from the Federation of Small Businesses, is warning that the country is heading for a “Christmas blackout”.