Ashby Mayor Graham Allman has explained the apparent arrival of Christmas lights in the town in October.

Festive lights were seen being switched on in Market Street on the corner of Bath Street on Friday night.

That suggested they were going up six weeks before December and more than two months before Christmas Day.

But the display was a test run for when the lights are switched on closer to the time they should be.

Ashby de la Zouch Town Council's Events & Entertainments Committee said in August that there would be lights in the town this Christmas despite a difficult year due to the Coronavirus pandemic Council insists there must be Christmas lights but costs have to be reduced.

Councillor Allman posted on the Spotted:Ashby Facebook page to clarify the reasons for the lights being on show.

Ashby Nub News contacted the Mayor on Saturday morning for permission to use the comment.

Cllr Allman said: "I can confirm that the lights are being hung and tested well prior to being permanently switched on for Christmas.

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"Following testing they with be switched off.

"They will not, repeat will not, be on during the Remembrance Day period including Armistice Day.

"The fitters are under pressure to complete national contracts. Stay safe everyone."

The Mayor told Ashby Nub News later: "I received several phone calls during the evening to ask what was happening with the lights."