[garinda]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

Interestingly, the figures purport to contradict this statement from the FOI office at Hyndburn:

There is no cost incurred in switching on the Accrington Town Centre Christmas lights, as this is performed by the Mayor and Mayoress of Hyndburn.

Area Councils advise that they have not paid anyone to switch on the Christmas Lights and have no plans to do so. They are always volunteers who give their time free. This has included in the past members of Accrington Stanley Football Club and Vickie Entwistle from Coronation Street. The volunteers understand that the light switch-ons are community events for all the family to enjoy and appreciate this enough to give their time.

The following article from the Lancashire Telegraph would also seem to be at odds with that statement:

Accrington Christmas switch-on cost £9,000 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Area Councils may well not have paid to switch on the lights but somebody else did.

True.

Licky-likey tribute acts such as Glee, Robbie Williams etc., which we've seen in recent years, are professional acts, and won't work for mince pies and a glass of sherry.